Kenya’s highest-ranking military officer, Gen. Francis Omondi Ogolla, has passed away in a military helicopter crash in the western part of the country.
The helicopter carried Ogolla and 11 other military personnel, of which only two survived. President William Ruto called for an urgent security council meeting and described the incident as a moment of great sadness for the country.
The crash occurred at 2:20 PM (11:20 GMT) in Elgeyo Marakwet county, approximately 400 km (250 miles) northwest of Nairobi, shortly after take-off. An air investigation team dispatched by the Kenyan Air Force is attempting to determine the cause of the crash.
Ogolla, who became Kenya’s military chief in April of last year, had previously served as the commander of the air force and deputy chief of defence forces. He was a gallant officer who had died in the line of duty, according to Mr Ruto.
In addition to Ogolla, nine other military personnel lost their lives in the crash, including Brig Swale Saidi, Col Duncan Keittany, Lt Col David Sawe, Maj George Benson Magondu, Capt Sora Mohamed, Capt Hillary Litali, Snr Sgt John Kinyua Mureithi, Sgt Cliphonce Omondi, and Sgt Rose Nyawira.
The African Union Commission’s chair, Moussa Faki Mahamat, extended his thoughts and prayers to Kenya’s president, government, and people following the tragic accident.
The crash victims were on a mission to reopen schools closed due to bandit attacks in Kenya’s North Rift region. The region has been plagued by banditry, and the officers had been visiting military officers deployed to stabilise the area.
Kenya will observe three days of mourning after the accident, starting on Friday, with flags flying at half-mast. The two survivors are in critical condition and receiving medical treatment.
SOURCE: BBC
