Kenyan Army Chief General Francis Omondi Ogolla and 9 other officers died in a military helicopter crash on Thursday.
William Ruto, the Kenyan President announced the death of KDF officers. “Today at 2:20 pm, our nation suffered a tragic air accident. I am deeply saddened to announce the passing on of General Francis Omondi Ogolla,” The President told reporters. He added that 9 other officers were also killed and 2 survived. President Ruto announced 3-day mourning starting from Friday.
The incident took place in Sindar, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi. Technical teams are busy collecting evidence and inquiring into the incident.
General Ogolla took office as the Kenyan army chief in April 2023. Before that he worked as KDF’s Deputy Chief of Staff. The other officers who died in the crash are Brigadier Swale Saidi, Colonel Duncan Keittany, Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe, Major George Benson Magondu, Captain Sora Mohamed, Captain Hillary Litali, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi, Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi, and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.
This is the second time in three years that a helicopter crash killed 10 military officers in Kenya. At least 10 soldiers were killed in June 2021 when their helicopter crashed while landing near the capital city of Nairobi.
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