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Murkomen's gazetted team to only probe civilian air crashes

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen. (Photo: X/Kipchumba Murkomen)

By Mary Wambui | 22 Apr 2024

The late General's crash is under investigation by an air investigations team from the Kenya Air Force led by its Commander Major General John Omenda.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has clarified that the recent team gazetted to probe aircraft mishaps will not extend its scope to military planes.

"As a department of transport, we don't investigate military planes. Our work is strictly restricted to civilian aeroplanes," Murkomen posted on X on Monday as he dismissed assertions that the team will extend its probe to cover the crash that killed Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla on Thursday last week.

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"As you heard from the President yesterday, it’s the exclusive mandate of the Kenya Defense Forces to investigate accidents involving military aircraft. My Ministry deals with purely civil aviation both private and commercial which is non-military and non-state aviation."

The CDF died alongside Brigadier Swale Saidi, Colonel Duncan Keittany, Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe, Major George Benson Magondu (the pilot), Captain Sora Mohamed, Captain Hillary Litali, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi, Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi, and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.

The late General's crash is under investigation by an air investigations team from the Kenya Air Force led by its Commander Major General John Omenda.

Aircraft Accident Investigation Team

The Ministry of Transport last week gazetted a seven-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Team to survey all the air misses that have happened in the country for the last three years.

The team chaired by Captain Peter Maranga will recommend action to be taken to avoid future recurrence of the incidents and to improve aviation safety in Kenya.

The team also comprising Captain Nduati Herman Njama, Rtd Lt Colonel Mike Mulwa, Ephantus Kamau, Captain Valentine Wendoh, Captain Martin Lunami and Brenda's Mwango acting as the joint secretary, has been given three months to complete the task and present a report to the CS.

They will also review all the preliminary accident reports for accidents involving Kenya-registered and/or operated aircraft presented by the Republic of South Sudan and the Federal Republic of Somalia for the last five years·

The move follows increased civilian air mishaps in the country, the latest being last month's incident where a chopper carrying CS Murkomen and Kenya Airports Authority Chairman, Caleb Kositany crashed during take-off in Mwachon, Eldama Ravine, Baringo County.

Days before the incident, a Safari-link-owned de Havilland Canada DHC-8-300 aircraft (5Y-SLK) departing Nairobi Wilson for Ukunda Diani, was involved in a mid-air collision with a Cessna 172 Skyhawk (5Y-NNJ).

The Cessna operated by the 99 Flying Club crashed in the Nairobi National Park killing both of its occupants; a pilot and his trainee.

All 39 passengers and crew of five in the Safari-link plane were safely returned to Wilson Airport with no injuries.