William Ruto Promises Thorough Probe Into Plane Accident That Killed Francis Ogolla

• A section of Azimio leaders called for a thorough probe into the sudden death of CDF Francis Ogolla, who perished in a plane crash
• General Ogolla's son, Joel Rabuku, had dismissed claims suggesting that his father was assassinated in the tragic accident
• President William Ruto assured the public of a thorough investigation into the matter, stating that details would be laid bare

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

The tragic loss of Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla and nine Kenya Defence Forces officials in a plane crash on Thursday, April 18, sent shockwaves across the nation.

Confirming the incident, President William Ruto disclosed that they were on a mission to inspect school renovations in the North Rift region ahead of the April 29 school reopening.

Azimio calls for probe on CDF Francis Ogolla's death

In the wake of this devastating event, there have been calls from some leaders for a thorough investigation into the true cause of the accident.

Senator Oburu Odinga, speaking at the burial ceremony held at Senator Obama Primary School in Ng'iya, Alego-Usonga, Siaya County, emphasised the importance of uncovering the truth.

He criticised Joel Rabuku, the late general's son, for allegedly hindering the investigation by dismissing social media claims about the accident.

Oburu highlighted Siaya's history of losing patriotic leaders to alleged assassination, underscoring the necessity of transparency in this case.

"We want to know the truth. We have lost so many leaders in our area in very suspicious ways and once bitten, twice shy. We want to know who killed our son. So young man (CDF Ogola's son) don't be impatient with us. We want to know the truth.

When Robert Ouko died, the regime then convinced the family to be dismissive of us who were asking questions. So young man, just be patient and allow the investigators to do their work," said Oburu.

How did Ruto praise General Ogolla?

During the funeral, Ruto paid tribute to General Ogolla, praising his leadership qualities and expressing his willingness to reappoint him if given the opportunity.

He described the late CDF as a dedicated commander and a citizen of great integrity and humility, citing his appointment based on credentials, integrity, and professionalism.

"I was very proud working with him. And I know for sure that I made the right decision. If I had another chance to appoint him as the CDF of Kenya, I would do so. I am very confident as I was then that in the hands of General Ogola, Kenya's security was assured," he stated.

He disclosed that only a few leaders can step up to take the roles left behind by the late General.

Ruto assures thorough probe on CDF's death

Despite Ruto's acknowledgement of General Ogolla's exemplary character, he assured the public of a thorough government investigation into the incident.

"It is true that we have lost many Kenyans because of extrajudicial killings and political assassinations. Without any fear of contradiction, all those kinds of murder will never happen under my watch.

Therefore, I have full confidence that General Omenda and the time he has appointed to make sure that all details are laid bare on the accident that took away the life of General Ogolla. Our defence team have the requisite integrity and professionalism to make sure that there will be no shroud of doubt on what happened to the CDF," the president assured.

He also reassured citizens that measures would be taken to prevent further assassinations and address concerns regarding safety, including incidents like those in the River Yala.

What else you need to know about Francis Ogolla's death

• The general left behind three wishes, including taking his widow on vacation by the KDF officer
• Joel Rabuku rubbished speculation on social media and said his father had a positive relationship with the president and his deputy
• The First Lady Rachel Ruto broke down during the burial of the late CDF

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke