10 including Kenyan military chief killed in helicopter crash, three days of mourning in the country

Nairobi, April 18 (HS). A military helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff in Kenya on Thursday, killing 10 people, including Kenyan military chief General Francis Ogola. President William Ruto confirmed the death of military chief Francis Ogola in this accident in a statement. President William Ruto has declared three days of mourning in honor of the late Chief of Defense Forces General Francis Ogola.

The helicopter, which Ruto said was carrying troops deployed to combat local cattle smuggling in north-west Kenya, crashed minutes after taking off from Cheptulele Boys Secondary School in West Pokot County. He said that two soldiers survived the accident and are undergoing treatment in the hospital. He said an aerial investigation team has been sent to find out the cause of this accident.

Ruto told a press conference that our motherland has lost one of its bravest generals. The President said that the death of General Ogola is a big loss for me. Martyred in the line of general duty and service to the country. Ruto said, the nation will observe a 3-day mourning period from 19 April 2024. During this period the Kenyan flag, the flag of the Kenya Defense Forces and the flag of the East African Community will fly at half mast in the Republic of Kenya and at Kenya missions abroad.

Ogola was previously Kenyan air force chief and deputy military chief of staff before being promoted to army chief by Ruto last year. According to a Defense Ministry profile, Ogola joined the Kenya Defense Forces in 1984, where he trained as a fighter pilot with the United States Air Force and as an instructor pilot in the Kenya Air Force (KAF). When promoting Ogola to the top military job a year ago, Ruto accused him of being part of a plot to overturn the outcome of the 2022 presidential election, but said he was the most qualified person for the job.

Dozens of civilians and police officers have been killed so far in the restive northwest where the accident occurred. In June 2021, at least 10 soldiers were killed when a helicopter crashed while landing near the capital Nairobi.

Other military personnel killed in the helicopter crash are-

1. Brigadier Swale Sayeedi,

2. Colonel Duncan Catney,

3. Lieutenant Colonel David Savay,

4. Major George Benson Magondu,

5. Captain Sora Mohammed,

6. Captain Hillary Litali,

7. Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Murethi,

8. Sergeant Clipphonse Omondi, and

9. Sergeant Rose Nyawira.