Francis Ogolla: Kenya's Chief Of Defence Forces Confirmed Dead Following Chopper Crash

• Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla perished in an aircraft crash on the afternoon of Thursday, April 18
• His death was confirmed by President William Ruto who convened a special meeting with the country's top security organs following the accident
• The tragedy came a year into Ogolla's tenure at the helms of the armed forces, having officially taken over from General Robert Kibochi in April 2023

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi: Kenya's Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Francis Ogolla has died in a chopper crash.

President William Ruto confirmed in a televised address to the state on the evening of Thursday, April 18.

Ogolla was onboard a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) plane that crashed in Keben on the border of the Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot counties.

In his company were, among others, nine other ranking military officials who also died in the crash; two occupants survived.

The officials who died alongside Ogolla 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.

The ill-fated Kenya Air Force Huey Helicopter was ferrying its occupants to the bandit-stricken north rift region on a working visit.

They were visiting troops deployed in the region under Operation Maliza Uhalifu, besides their inspection of the renovation works in a host of schools there.

"Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals, gallant officers, service men and women. The demise of General Ogolla is a painful loss to me, and certainly, the sorrow we all feel about his passing is shared by all the people of Kenya, and especially the KDF fraternity," mourned Ruto.

In honour of Ogolla, the president proclaimed that the nation would observe a period of three days of mourning commencing this Friday, April 19.

During the national mourning, the Kenyan, KDF, and Eastern African Community (EAC) flags will be hoisted at half-mast, both in the country and at the Kenyan missions abroad.

Meanwhile, the president announced that a special team had been constituted by the Kenya Air Force to probe and establish the cause of the air crash.