Azimio Coalition led by Raila Odinga on Tuesday, April 23, announced the formation of a joint Parliamentary inquiry team that would probe the accident and death of the late Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla.
Speaking after the Azimio-One Kenya Parliamentary Group meeting held at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi County, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi who read the coalition's statement revealed that Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch and Kitui Senator Enock Wambua had been appointed to lead the inquest.
Wandayi stated that the coalition was wary that the investigation was being undermined by the government.
“We have authorised Anthony Oluoch and Enoch Wambua to lead a process of establishing a joint Parliamentary inquiry from both the Senate and National Assembly in the unfortunate death of Ogolla,” Wandayi stated.
“We are seeing worrying signs that Ruto set up a separate investigation team away from one Gazetted by his Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.”
Murkomen had appointed a seven-member aircraft investigation team to assess Kenya-registered or operated aircraft that had been involved in accidents.
On April 19, a team comprised of military officials started investigations in West Pokot where CDF Ogolla's chopper crashed.
This led Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen to issue a statement clarifying that the mandate to investigate KDF crashes did not fall under his ministry.
"It is the exclusive mandate of the Kenya Defense Forces to investigate accidents involving military aircraft," he explained adding that his ministry only deals with purely civil aviation both private and commercial.
Azimio interpreting the situation, stated that this was a deliberate plan by the government to sabotage the investigations.
A section of Azimio leaders led by Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga had earlier called for an investigation to rule out foul play in the general's death.
This was despite Ogolla's family asking Kenyans to refrain from speculating about what caused General Ogolla's death including fanning rumours that he had been assassinated.
