Kenya’s army chief and 9 other military officials killed in helicopter crash

Africa, News April 20, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

Kenya’s military chief, Francis Ogolla, was among ten senior military commanders killed in a helicopter crash in the country’s western region on April 18, 2024. Kenyan President William Ruto confirmed the death of the country’s military chief. Two people survived the crash and are hospitalized.

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) helicopter, carrying 12 military officials, crashed shortly after taking off on Thursday afternoon in Elgeyo Marakwet County, about 400 kilometers northwest of the capital Nairobi. The military chief was present in the aircraft as he was visiting the soldiers stationed in northwest Kenya deployed to combat the cattle stealing activities.

The chopper crashed at Tot division in Elgeyo Marakwet County of Kenya, according to local media.

Kenya will observe three days of mourning beginning on Friday. “Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals,” President Ruto said at a news conference. “The demise of General Ogolla is a painful loss to me.”

Ogolla is the first Kenyan military chief to die in active service, according to state broadcaster Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). The four-star general will be buried on Sunday at his home in western Siaya County, according to his family.

Remains of the victims of the KDF chopper crash arrive in Nairobi. https://t.co/0FzXAF5QxN
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) April 18, 2024

Nine others who were killed in the crash, including some high-ranking military officials, have been named as Brig. Swale Saidi, Colonel Duncan Keittany, Lt. Col. David Sawe, Maj. George Benson Magondu, Cpt. Sora Mohamed, Cpt. Hillary Litali, Snr. Sgt. John Kinyua Mureithi, Sgt. Cliphonce Omondi, and Sgt. Rose Nyawira.

Investigation ordered

The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. Only two of the 12 people on board survived the crash and were moved to hospital, the president said. Kenya’s government has dispatched an air investigation team to the site of the crash to find out the causes of the incident.

Before being appointed as the head of the Kenyan military, Ogolla served as the chief of the Kenyan air force, progressing from the position of deputy military chief. He was appointed to his current position by President Ruto last year.

Despite accusing Ogolla of involvement in an alleged plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election, Ruto appointed him as the military chief stating that Ogolla was the most suitable candidate for the position based on qualifications.

“General Ogolla was among the people who tried to overturn my victory at Bomas. But when I looked at his CV, he was the best person to be the General. I called Mr. Ogolla, sat him down, and told him. My friend, you went to Bomas to try and overturn my victory, but because you are the best person to be General, I am going to give you the job,” Ruto said about Ogolla.

^{Kenya’s military chief Gen. Francis Ogolla died in a helicopter crash west of the country, on April 18, 2024. Ogolla was appointed as chief of the defense forces in April 2023. (Image Credit: Kenyan armed forces)}

According to the Ministry of Defense profile of General Ogolla, he was enlisted in the military in 1984 and underwent training as a fighter pilot with the United States Air Force. He also served as an instructor pilot with the Kenyan Air Force before rising in the ranks to become the Air Force chief.

After the accident, Ruto immediately called for a meeting of Kenya’s National Security Council in Nairobi, as reported by presidential spokesperson Hussein Mohamed. Kenya will observe three days of mourning beginning on Friday, Ruto said.

In a similar accident in June 2021, a helicopter crash near Nairobi claimed the lives of at least 10 soldiers during the landing.