Noboa says Kenya accident took two people he considered family

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa expressed profound personal sorrow following the deaths of his Director of Intelligence, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan, in a helicopter accident in Kenya. Noboa, who was on an official visit to China at the time, took to social media to share his grief.

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The accident in Kenya took two friends from me, but above all, it took two people who were family to us.

"The accident in Kenya took two friends from me, but above all, it took two people who were family to us," Noboa wrote on X. He described Sensi-Contugi as a loyal, brave, and steadfast companion who stood by him during "some of the most difficult moments" of recent years. Noboa emphasized that Sensi-Contugi was irreplaceable in their shared battles and leaves a significant void.

Noboa shared that his relationship with Sensi-Contugi and Hollihan extended beyond professional duties. "With them, we shared life. The good times, the difficult days, the conversations that remained between us, the laughter, and that trust that only exists when friends stop being friends and become family. It's still hard for me to understand that they are no longer here," he stated.

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Loyal, brave, and steadfast, he accompanied me without hesitation when it was time to make decisions that few were willing to face. He was irreplaceable in the battles we fought together and leaves a huge void in all those we still have to fight. But our story was never just about work.

As a father himself, Noboa, along with his wife Lavinia, acknowledged the paramount importance of Sensi-Contugi and Hollihan's children. "As parents, Lavinia and I know that nothing was more important to them than their children. We know how much they loved them and all they dreamed for them, and as long as we are here, they will never be alone. We are going to take care of them and accompany them as we know they would have done for ours," Noboa pledged.

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With them, we shared life. The good times, the difficult days, the conversations that remained between us, the laughter, and that trust that only exists when friends stop being friends and become family. It's still hard for me to understand that they are no longer here.

Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with the embassy in South Africa, friendly diplomatic missions, and Kenyan authorities to repatriate the remains of Sensi-Contugi, who had led the National Intelligence Center since 2024, and Hollihan. Ecuador does not have a resident diplomatic mission in Kenya. President Noboa ordered a state funeral upon their return to Ecuador. The helicopter crash, an Eurocopter EC130 B4, occurred in Samburu County, killing seven people in total (six passengers and the pilot). Kenyan authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

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As parents, Lavinia and I know that nothing was more important to them than their children. We know how much they loved them and all they dreamed for them, and as long as we are here, they will never be alone. We are going to take care of them and accompany them as we know they would have done for ours.