The head of Kenya's defense and nine other high-ranking officers were killed on Thursday in a military helicopter crash in a distant part of the country, President William Ruto announced.
Ruto told reporters, “At 2:20 pm today, our country experienced a terrible air accident… I am very sad to report the death of General Francis Omondi Ogolla.”
The president, who had called an urgent meeting of the National Security Council after learning of the accident, stated that nine other brave military members on board also died while two survived.
He mentioned that the Kenya Air Force has sent a team to investigate the cause of the crash, which occurred in Elgeyo Marakwet county, around 400 kilometers northwest of the capital Nairobi.
According to Ruto, the helicopter crashed shortly after taking off from Chesegon, where he and his group had been visiting a school.
“A highly respected four-star general has passed away while serving the country and carrying out his duties,” he said.
“Our nation has lost one of its bravest generals, as well as courageous officers and service members.”
Ruto declared three days of mourning from Friday, with official flags being flown at half mast.
He informed that Ogolla, 61, had departed from Nairobi on Thursday morning on an Air Force Huey helicopter to visit troops involved in Operation End Crime in Swahili and other locations in the North Rift area.
Kenyan authorities have been dealing with widespread insecurity in the Rift Valley region, with armed bandits and cattle rustlers being common issues.
“The helicopter caught fire after the crash and had more than 10 senior commanders onboard, including General Ogolla,” a police officer had told AFP earlier.
“They were in the area for a security mission due to the presence of KDF (Kenya Defence Forces) soldiers deployed in the region,” he added.
Ruto appointed Ogolla as Chief of the Defence Forces in April of last year after serving as deputy.
Last May, Ruto had told journalists that he chose Ogolla despite his involvement in the attempt to overturn his narrow election victory against opposition leader Raila Odinga in 2022.
“When I reviewed his CV, I concluded that he was the most suitable person for the position of general,” Ruto stated, noting that his decision went against the wishes of many.
A trained fighter pilot, Ogolla joined the KDF in April 1984 and steadily moved up the ranks to lead the Kenyan Air Force in 2018, a role he held for three years.
AFP
