The Chief of Army Staff and nine senior Kenyan commanders died in a helicopter crash
Kenya is mourning the death of the Chief of Army Staff (KDF), General Francis Omondi Ogolla who passed away in a helicopter accident that happened yesterday Alkhamsida in the Sindar area on the border of West Pokot County and Elgeyo Marakwet.
General Ogolla died along with nine other senior officers of the Kenyan army who were in the KDF helicopter that had 11 other officers of the army when the accident occurred a few minutes after 9 pm.
President William Ruto has announced three days of mourning for General Ogolla and other officers who died while on duty.
President Ruto told the nation accompanied by senior KDF commanders and Defense Minister Aden Duale at the Nairobi State House: "It is a sad day. Today our country has suffered a tragic accident that killed the Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces, General Francis Omondi Ogolla".
The officers were coming from a working visit to Cheptulel Boys Secondary School, West Pokot where they attended a meeting for one hour.
President Ruto has said, General Ogolla and his officers had visited the soldiers helping in the fight against poaching in the North of the Rift Valley.
Tito Lopuriang, a resident of the Cheptulel area visited by General Ogolla and his fellow officials said, after a meeting with the chiefs of the area and other officials of the administration of the Kenyan Armed Forces, he and his colleagues boarded a buffalo-type army helicopter that left a few minutes before the hour nine and a few minutes later, residents saw smoke after the helicopter crashed in the Sindar area on the Marakwet side, about two kilometers from Chesegon.
Pokot West County Commissioner Khalif Abdullahi confirmed that the helicopter crashed at the county's border with Elgeyo Marakwet.
General Ogolla was appointed as the chief of Kenya's defense forces on April 28, 2023 after the retirement of General Robert Kibochi on April 28, 2023.../
