‘On Thursday Kenya’s defence chief and nine other top brass died in a military helicopter crash in a remote area of the country’, said President William Ruto.
‘Today at 2:20 pm, our country suffered a tragic air accident. I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of General Francis Omondi Ogolla, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces (CDF)’ told Ruto.
The president had convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council after news of the accident emerged. He said nine other gallant military personnel on board were also killed while two survived.
Ogolla, 61, a trained fighter pilot, had only been in the post for a year but was shortly due to mark 40 years of military service.
‘The Kenya Air Force had sent an investigation team to find the reason for the crash, which took place in Elgeyo Marakwet county, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi’, said Ruto.
Ogolla’s helicopter went down shortly after takeoff from the village of Chesegon. He and his entourage had been visiting a school after making stops in other areas to see Kenyan troops and other sites.
Ruto announced three days of mourning from Friday, with official flags to fly at half-mast and messages of condolence were sent from across the region.
‘A distinguished four-star general has fallen in the course of duty and service of the country’, said William Ruto. He further added, ‘Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals, gallant officers, service men and women’.
‘The bodies of the victims, draped in Kenyan flags, were returned to Nairobi on an air force plane late Thursday’, according to images shared by the presidency.
According to the Kenyan media reports, ‘This was the fifth military chopper crash in 12 months, with claims the aircraft were old and poorly maintained’.
Meanwhile in June 2021, over 10 soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed during a training exercise south of Nairobi.
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