General Francis Ogolla, the defense chief of Kenya, along with nine other military officers, tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash shortly after takeoff from Chesegon village. President William Ruto confirmed the devastating news during a press conference in Nairobi. The military officials were on a visit to northwest Kenya, where they were actively involved in combating armed banditry and rampant cattle rustling. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed just minutes after departing from Cheptulel Boys Secondary School, leaving only two survivors who are currently receiving medical attention.
President Ruto expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of General Ogolla, describing him as one of the nation’s most courageous generals. He emphasized that the general’s demise was a painful loss for the entire country, as he had served with distinction and dedication. General Ogolla, aged 61, had held the position of defense chief for a year. Prior to that, he had led the Kenyan Air Force and served as the deputy military chief. President Ruto appointed him as the head of the military in April of the previous year.
The Kenyan Defense Ministry revealed that General Ogolla joined the defense forces in 1984 and underwent training as a fighter pilot with the United States Air Force. He later became an instructor pilot with the Kenya Air Force (KAF). Tragically, this incident marks the fifth military helicopter crash in the past 12 months, raising concerns about the maintenance standards of the aircraft. In June 2021, ten soldiers lost their lives in another helicopter crash during a training exercise south of Nairobi.
President Ruto assured the nation that an air investigation team had been dispatched to determine the cause of the accident, which occurred in Elgeyo Marakwet County, approximately 400km (250 miles) northwest of Nairobi. The president shared footage on X (formerly Twitter), showing the victims’ bodies being transported back to the capital on an air force plane, draped in Kenyan flags. As a mark of respect, the country has declared three days of mourning to honor the fallen military officers.
