As Kenya officially begins three days of mourning in honour of fallen Chief of Defence Forces, two survivors of the chopper crash are recuperating in hospital.
Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla perished in a chopper crash in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Thursday, April 18.
President William Ruto while announcing his untimely demise, said General Ogolla was visiting certain troops in North Rift who are part of the Operation Maliza Uhalifu.
The operation is a collaboration between KDF soldiers and National Police Service to eliminate banditry.
Service man Karanja Mogire was one of the two survivors of the chopper crash. He is receiving treatment at Eldoret Regional Hospital.
10 officers were on board, including General Ogolla, died.
Ogalla died at the age of 61 years after serving as Chief of Defence Forces for one year, after he was appointed by president William Ruto on April 28, 2023.
The nine officers who perished are; Brigadier Swale Saidi, Colonel Duncan Keittany, Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe, Major George Benson Magondu, Captain Sora Mohamed, Captain Hillary Litali, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi, Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi, and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.
General Francis Ogolla took over the position from Robert Kibochi who retired after 44 years in the military.
“His Excellency Dr. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, pursuant to Section 9 (2). (a) of the Kenya Defence Forces Act, has today promoted Lieutenant General Francis Omondi Ogolla to the rank of General and appointed him Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF).
“General Francis Omondi Ogolla replaces General Robert Kariuki Kibochi whose term of service has honorably come to an end after 44 years of an illustrious military career,” read the statement in part.
General Francis Ogolla’s swearing in ceremony and investiture of ranks was held on April 29, 2023 at State House, Nairobi.
