KDF team dispatched to chopper crash site in West Pokot » Capital News

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 19 – The Kenya Defence Forces has dispatched a team of air crash Investigators to probe the cause of the tragic air crash that led to the death of Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla and nine others on Thursday.

The Huey helicopter crashed at 2:20 pm shortly after take off.

It came down in Elgeyo Marakwet county, some 400km (250 miles) north-west of the capital Nairobi, shortly after take off,

President William Ruto confirmed the incident saying Kenya Air Force personnel will lead the probe.

Kenya’s military chief, Gen Francis Omondi Ogolla, died in the crash.

Ogolla was appointed in April of last year after serving as the commander of the air force and deputy chief of defence forces.

Kenya will observe a three-day period of mourning, commencing on Friday, with flags flying at half-mast.

Ogolla first joined the Kenya Defence Forces on 24 April 1984, according to the Kenyan defence ministry’s website.

He was due to mark 40 years in the military next week.

He began his career as a 2nd lieutenant in the country’s air force, where he trained as a fighter pilot with the US air force, the ministry says. In 2018, he became commander of the air force.

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