KDF Chopper: Eyewitness Claims He Saw Helicopter Propeller Stall Before Crash: "Ililipuka"

• A resident of Elgeyo Marakwet recounted moments when the chopper carrying the soldiers met their untimely demise
• The man claimed that he and his people witnessed when the helicopter landed in their area as they were working at around 10 am
• The man described how the chopper's propeller wasn't moving, and they thought it was preparing to land

An eyewitness, a resident of the area where the tragic helicopter crash has spoken of the crash, and he recounted how they tried to help the casualties of the crash.

What did the chopper's eyewitness say?

In an interview with NTV, a man claiming to have helped a survivor of the helicopter crash in West Pokot spoke.

He recalled moments after the helicopter arrived in the area as they worked and did not mind it.

"It was a time like this around 10 am we were working. It came and landed in a school, we continued with our work at the shamba," he said.

Hours later, he claims that the chopper's propellers were not working, and they thought the helicopter was landing.

"At around lunchtime, we saw the chopper, and the propellers were not moving, so people thought it was landing. So it crashed. We decided to run and save those people. When we were trying to get them out, there was a huge fire, and it blew up, but we had removed those people.

There was one person standing there, and he asked us for help. Other soldiers came, and they asked us to get out. My clothes got burnt."

Watch the full interview here:

KDF boss Francis Ogolla dies in crash

Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla perished in the 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.

Details about Francis Ogolla chopper crash

• Kenyans took to various social media platforms to express shock and concern after learning about the tragic plane crash.
• Ogolla's daughter mourned him in a moving post on social media.
• Kenyan leaders and diplomats flocked to social media to mourn the late Chief of Defence Forces General.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.