On June 24, 2021, the Country lost 11 soldiers who were on board a Mi-171E Air Force chopper that crashed and burst into flames at Ol Tepesi area in Ngong, Kajiado County.
An additional 12 soldiers were injured and rushed to private hospitals in the area before they were taken to the Kenya Defense Forces Memorial Hospital where they were admitted.
Details of the soldiers who perished emerged on Thursday, July 1, during the requiem mass at the Moi Air Base Gymnasium.
The 11 include; WO2 Joshua Obare Odera, WO2 Tarcisio Wandera Namboka, Ssgt Noah Wanyonyi Munialo, Ssgt Bob Kipkemoi Aruasa, Ssgt Anthony Simon Kamuti and Sgt Josphat Muriuki Maingi.
Others are; Ssgt Irene Wanjiku Githinji, Sgt Steve Ombuka Angwenyi, Sgt Stephen Omarian Omale, Cpl Bonface Ogati Mocheche and Spte Thomas Shekeine.
Obare Odera was working as a Technician, No. 3 Squadron, before his demise. Since getting into the service in 1990, he has been honoured with Long Service and Good Conduct, 20 Great Year of Nyayo Era, Ops Linda Nchi and Constitution Medals.
Wandera Namboka was working as a nurse before he passed on. He started his service in 1994 and had been honoured with the Long Service and Good Conduct, 20 Great Year of Nyayo Era, Ops Linda Nchi and Constitution Medals during his tenure.
Wanyonyi Munialo was a technician and had also been honoured with Long Service and Good Conduct, 20 Great Year of Nyayo Era, Ops Linda Nchi and Constitution Medals since he begun his tenure in 1994.
Kipkemoi Aruasa was also a technician. He had been honoured with Long Service and Good Conduct, Ops Linda Nchi and Constitution Medals since he begun his tenure in 2002.
Simon Kamuti was a technician and had also been honoured with the Long Service and Good Conduct, Ops Linda Nchi and Constitution Medals since he begun his tenure in 2003.
Wanjiku Githinji was a flight attendant and was honoured with United Nations and Constitution Medals since she begun her service in 2008.
Muriuki Maingi was working as an Air Loadmaster Squadron before he died. During his tenure in the Service, he was honoured with United Nations and Constitution Medals.
Ombuka Angwenyi was working as a technician before his demise. He had been honoured with Ops Linda Nchi and Constitution Medals since his tenure begun in 2007.
Omarian Omale was also working as a technician. Since he began his tenure in 2007, he was honoured with Ops Linda Nchi and Constitution Medals.
Ogati Mocheche was working as an Air Loadmaster Squadron. Since the beginning of his tenure in 2010, he has been honoured with Ops Linda Nchi Medal.
Thomas Shekeine was working as a Flight Attendant before his demise. He was enlisted in the KDF in 2014 and was honoured with Ops Linda Nchi Medal during his tenure of service.
