Helicopter crash in Kenya kills country’s military chief

Kenya’s military chief, General Francis Omondi Ogolla, died after a military helicopter crashed in the west of the country, the president said.

Ogolla – Kenya’s highest-ranking military officer – was in the helicopter along with 11 other soldiers. Only two people survived.

At a press conference, President William Ruto said it was a “time of great sadness” for the country.

He had already called an urgent security council meeting.

The accident happened at 2:20 pm (11:20 GMT), Ruto said. The Kenyan air force sent an aerial investigation team to establish the cause.

The helicopter crashed in Elgeyo Marakwet county, about 400 km (250 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi, shortly after takeoff, Ruto said.

Ogolla was appointed in April last year after serving as commander of the Air Force and deputy chief of defense forces.

Ruto described his chief military adviser as a gallant officer who died in the line of duty.

“Our homeland has lost one of its bravest generals, brave officers, soldiers and women,” Ruto told the nation.

Kenya will observe a three-day mourning period starting on Friday, with flags flown at half-mast.

Ogolla first joined the Kenya Defense Forces on April 24, 1984, according to the Kenyan Ministry of Defense website.

He was supposed to celebrate 40 years in the military next week.

He began his career as a second lieutenant in the country’s Air Force, where he trained as a fighter pilot in the US Air Force, the ministry says. In 2018, he became commander of the Air Force.

Nine others killed in the crash were named as 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, chairman of the African Union Commission, said his “thoughts and prayers” were with the president, government and people of Kenya following the “tragic helicopter crash”.

The two survivors are in critical condition and undergoing treatment.

The officers traveled to Kenya’s North Rift region, which has been plagued by banditry.

They were on a mission to reopen some of the schools closed after bandit attacks. They also visited military officials deployed to stabilize the region.

In June 2021, at least 10 soldiers died when their helicopter crashed while landing near the capital, Nairobi.