NAIROBI: Kenya’s President William Ruto has announced defence chief and nine other senior military officers of the country died in a tragic helicopter crash incident on Thursday.
“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,” Ruto said, adding that nine other officers were also killed while two survived.
The tragic incident unfolded as a military helicopter carrying high-ranking officials, including the defence chief, crashed in Elgeyo Marakwet county, approximately 400 kilometers northwest of the capital Nairobi, police said.
Among those on board the ill-fated helicopter was Defence Forces Chief General Francis Omondi Ogolla. The helicopter reportedly burst into flames upon crashing.
While the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, initial reports suggest that the helicopter was on a security mission in the region, where Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers were deployed.
News of the crash prompted President William Ruto to convene an urgent meeting of the National Security Council at State House Nairobi. The president’s office announced the meeting shortly after the crash was reported.
General Ogolla, 61, assumed the role of Chief of the Defence Forces in April of the previous year, following a tenure as deputy. His appointment by President Ruto was met with some controversy, as Ogolla had been among those who contested Ruto’s narrow election victory against opposition leader Raila Odinga in 2022.
A seasoned fighter pilot, Ogolla had served in the Kenya Defence Forces since April 1984, steadily rising through the ranks to eventually command the Kenyan Air Force in 2018. His leadership and expertise have been instrumental in shaping the country’s military strategy and operations.
