President William Ruto has declared three days of national mourning following the death of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla on Thursday in Elgeyo Marakwet.
Confirming the tragic death of the CDF alongside nine other Kenya Defence Forces(KDF) officers in a televised address to the Nation, Ruto ordered the lowering of national, regional, and regimental flags to half-mast from Friday.
The Head of State described Gen Ogolla’s death as “a painful loss to me.”
Ruto listed the nine officers accompanying Gen Ogolla as Brig Swaleh Said, Col Duncan Keitan, Lt Col David Sawe, Maj George Magondu (Pilot), Capt Sorah Mohamed, Capt Hillary Butali, Snr Sgt John Kinyua, Sgt Cliffonce Omondi, and Sgt Rose Nyawira.
“This is a very sad moment, a moment of great sadness for me as the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces; it is a tragic moment for KDF and it is a most unfortunate day for the nation at large.”
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“Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant Generals. We’ve also lost gallant officers, servicemen and women,” he said.
The Head of State said the ten officers were traveling in a Huey Helicopter operated by the Kenya Air Force. Two other officers survived the crash.
According to the Head of State, Gen Ogolla left Nairobi to visit KDF troops in the North Rift region and inspect construction projects in three local primary schools.
He also received a security briefing in Baringo before proceeding to a Forward Operation Base in Kainuk, Turkana, where he addressed troops.
Gen Ogolla then left for West Pokot, where he launched the rehabilitation of a school, and later departed for Uasin Gishu, where he was to inspect another set of construction projects.
President Ruto said the crash occurred shortly after takeoff as Ogolla and his entourage departed from West Pokot.
