President William Ruto on Thursday, April 18, confirmed the death of Chief of Defence Forces, General Francis Ogolla who died in a grisly military helicopter accident in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The Head of State while issuing a State of the Nation address at State House in Nairobi, noted that the chopper crashed with 11 passengers on board 9 of whom died alongside CDF Ogolla.
“Today at 2.20 pm our nation suffered a tragic air accident Sindar area, Keben location in Elgeyo Marakwet county. I am deeply saddened to announce the passing on of General Francis Omondi Ogolla,” Ruto announced.
Ruto mourned the deceased and termed him a distinguished four-star general who was committed to his work.
According to Ruto, Ogolla onboard the Kenya Air Force Huey Helicopter, had left Nairobi on Thursday morning, to visit troops deployed in the North Rift under Operation Maliza Uhalifu and to inspect renovation works on five schools.
Ogolla then proceeded to the Kainuk Forward Operating Base in Turkana County, where he addressed troops, commending them for their resilience and operational successes.
He later departed Chesegon for the Recruits Training School in Uasin Gishu County, where he was scheduled to inspect construction facilities at the institution. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed shortly after take-off.
"This is a moment of great sadness for myself, as the Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, the Kenya Defence Forces fraternity and the nation at large," Ruto stated.
"The demise of General Ogolla is a painful loss to me, and certainly, the sorrow we all feel about his passing is shared by all the people of Kenya, and especially the KDF fraternity," he added.
According to Ruto, a team had already been established to investigate the root cause of the accident.
The head of state further directed a three-day mourning where the flags including the Kenyan flag, the East African flag and that of the military would flow at half-mast beginning Friday, April 19.
Military officials who died alongside General Ogolla include Brigadier Swale Saidi, Colonel Duncan Keittany, Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe, Major George Benson Magondu and Captain Sora Mohamed.
Others were Captain Hillary Litali, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi, Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi, and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.
The announcement came moments after President Ruto convened a National Security Council meeting at State House in Nairobi.
Among the high-ranking govt delegates who attended the security meeting alongside Ruto included Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Interior CS Kithure Kindiki.
Others who attended the closed-door meeting included Attorney General Justin Muturi, Defence CS Aden Dwale, the head of National Intelligence Service Noordin Haji, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and National Security Advisor Monica Juma.
