Kenya’s Military Chief and Nine Others Die in Helicopter Crash
Kenyan authorities are grappling with a tragedy after a military helicopter crash claimed the lives of the country’s top military official and several others.
President William Ruto himself delivered the somber news on Thursday evening, announcing the passing of General Francis Ogolla, Chief of the Kenyan Defence Force.
General Ogolla perished alongside nine other high-ranking military personnel. Thankfully, two people survived the crash.
The President described General Ogolla as a distinguished four-star general. Details surrounding the crash are still emerging, but reports indicate the helicopter came down in flames within Kenya’s Rift Valley, specifically Elgeyo Marakwet county, located roughly 400 kilometers northwest of the capital, Nairobi.
General Ogolla, born in 1962, assumed the role of Kenya’s Defence Forces Chief in April 2023. Kenyan media reports indicate he is survived by a wife and two children.
As a sign of respect for the victims, the Kenyan government has declared a three-day period of national mourning, commencing today, April 19th.
Additional Source: AfricaNews
