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Gen Francis Ogolla: Kenya helicopter crash kills country's military chief
14 minutes ago
By Ian Wafula, Africa security correspondent & Malu Cursino,
In Nairobi and London

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AFP William Ruto (L) and Chief of Kenya Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla (R)
look on while inspecting a guard of honour by members of the Kenya Defence Forces
(KDF) during his official state visit to State House in Nairobi, on February 28,
2024.AFP
President Ruto is seen with the chief of the Kenya Defence Forces General Francis
Ogolla in this photo on 28 February
Kenya's military chief, Gen Francis Omondi Ogolla, has died after a military
helicopter crashed in the west of the country, the president said.

Gen Ogolla - Kenya's highest ranking military officer - was in the helicopter
alongside 11 other military personnel. Only two people survived.

In a news conference, President William Ruto said it was a "moment of great

sadness" for the country.

He had earlier convened an urgent security council meeting.

Mr Ruto said the crash happened at 14:20 local time (12:20 BST). The Kenya Air
Force has dispatched an air investigation team to establish the cause of the crash,
the president said.

The helicopter came down in Elgeyo Marakwet county, some 400km (250 miles) north-
west of the capital Nairobi. "Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed shortly after
take off," Mr Ruto said.

Gen Ogolla was appointed by Mr Ruto in April last year, after serving as the
Commander of the Air Force and Deputy Chief of Defence Forces.

Mr Ruto described Gen Ogolla -who was also the chief military adviser to the
president - as a gallant officer who died in the line of duty.

Getty Images Chief of Kenya Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla (C) gestures as
Britain's King Charles III (unseen) and Kenyan President William Ruto (unseen)
arrive at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior during a wreath laying ceremony at Uhuru
Gardens in Nairobi on October 31, 2023.Getty Images
"Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals, gallant officers,
service men and woman," Mr Ruto told the nation.

The nation will observe a three-day period of mourning, commencing on Friday 19

April. The flags in the Republic of Kenya and in Kenyan missions abroad will fly at
half mast, Mr Ruto said.

Gen Ogolla first joined the Kenya Defence Forces on 24 April 1984, according to the
Kenyan defence ministry's website.

He was due to mark 40 years in the military next week.

He began his career as a 2nd Lt in the country's air force, where he trained as a
fighter pilot with the US Air Force, the ministry says. In 2018, he became
Commander of the Kenya Air Force - a role which he held until becoming the
country's military chief.

Nine others killed in the crash were senior military officers: Brig Swale Saidi,
Col Duncan Keittany, Lt Col David Sawe, Maj George Benson Magondu, Capt Sora
Mohamed, Capt Hillary Litali, Snr Sgt John Kinyua Mureithi, Sgt Cliphonce Omondi,
and Sgt Rose Nyawira.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, chair of the African Union Commission, said "our thoughts and
prayers" go out to Kenya's president, government and people following the "tragic
helicopter accident".

The two survivors are in critical condition and undergoing treatment.

The officers had travelled to Kenya's North Rift region, which has been plagued by
banditry.

They were on a mission to reopen some of the schools closed following bandit
attacks. They had also visited military officers deployed to stabilise the region.

The incident marks the second time in three years that a helicopter crash has
killed at least 10 military officers in Kenya.

At least 10 soldiers were killed in June 2021 when their helicopter crashed while
landing near the capital of Nairobi.

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