Team probing Ogolla's death visited chopper manufacturer in US - Duale

The late Chief of Kenya Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla with President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi on October 31, 2023. (Photo: ARTHUR EDWARDS/POOL/AFP)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Thursday, May 30, 2024

The remains of the helicopter have been taken to the manufacturer, Bell Textron Inc. company in the US to determine the cause of the crash that killed Ogolla and nine others.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has given an update on the ongoing probe into the death of former Chief Of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla who died in a tragic helicopter crash in April.

The CS on Wednesday said that the team probing the crash is in the United States of America with some of the parts from the helicopter.

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Duale also revealed that the remains of the helicopter had been taken to the manufacturer, Bell Textron Inc. company to determine the cause of the crash that killed Ogolla and nine others.

"Our investigation and inquiry is going on, done by a very competent team of Air Force and other officers from other services," he said.

"We are engaging to upscale that up to the manufacturer Bell of the US because they also have an interest."

Report made public

The CS further assured Kenyans that once the inquiry is done, the report will be made public just as President William Ruto promised.

President William Ruto when he announced the death of CDF Francis Ogolla at State House. (PCS)

"Our team is in the US, once all the information is collected and collated a recommendation and observation is given to us, and we will tell the country whether it was mechanical or anything else. I can tell you without any contradiction as the Commander-in-Chief promised the country, we will avail a very detailed report," Duale said.

"The Defense Council will receive the report, the Commander in Chief, Kenyan taxpayers who fund the military, family and friends of Ogolla will have answers," he added.

General Ogolla and nine others perished on April 18, 2024, after the chopper they were in crashed at the Kaben-Cheptulel border between Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot counties. Only two passengers survived the crash.

During Ogolla's funeral service, President Ruto assured Kenyans that the results of the military probe into the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla will be made public to clear the lingering doubt that the family, military and Kenyans may have on the cause of his death.

"I have full confidence in the team he has appointed to lay bare the details of the accident that took away the life of General Ogolla. I know that the KDF is as concerned as I am and indeed the family and every Kenyan on the life of General Ogolla and I want to assure the country that our Kenya Airforce has the requisite integrity and professionalism to make sure that there will be no shroud of doubt on what happened to him," President Ruto said.