Kenya’s top military leader, Francis Ogolla, died in a helicopter crash in the western part of the country on Thursday, President William Ruto said on TV.
The helicopter crashed and all the people on board, including Ogolla and nine others from the military, died. It happened shortly after take-off on Thursday afternoon. Ruto said this. Two people didn’t get hurt in the accident, he said.
“I feel very sad to say that General Francis Omondi Ogolla, the leader of the Kenya Defence Forces, has passed away,” he said.
Ruto said a group of people who look for answers will go to the place where the crash happened to find out what caused it.
Ogolla left Nairobi on Thursday to go see soldiers in the North Rift region of the country and check on school repairs, the president said.
After the crash, Ruto quickly gathered the country’s National Security Council in Nairobi for a meeting, as reported by presidential spokesperson Hussein Mohamed.
“As the head of the Kenyan military, I am sad for the soldiers and for our country,” Ruto said.
“Our country has lost one of its bravest leaders. ” We also lost brave officers, soldiers, and women,” he said.
Kenya will mourn for three days starting on Friday, Ruto announced.
According to a news report from Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), Ogolla is the first military chief from Kenya to die while on duty. The general started working for the Kenya Defence Forces in 1984. In 1985, he became a 2nd Lieutenant and was then assigned to the Kenya Air Force, as stated on the Ministry of Defence website.
Date:
Kenyan military commander died in helicopter crash – President
