In a ceremony at State House Nairobi on Friday, President William Ruto officially received the investigative report into the helicopter crash that claimed the life of the late Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Francis Ogolla.
The report was handed over by Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, in the presence of senior military officials
Including current CDF General Charles Kahariri, Vice CDF Lt-General John Omenda, and Kenya Air Force Commander Major-General Fatuma Ahmed.
What went wrong?
Departing from Nairobi Wilson Airport aboard the Bell UH-1H-II (Huey) Helicopter KAF 1501, the mission was routine until it wasn’t.
The chopper had made refueling stops in Chesitet and Kainuk, then landed at Cheptulel Boys High School in Chesogon at 1:36 p.m.
After inspecting construction progress at the school, the team prepared to head to the Defence Forces Recruits Training School in Eldoret.
But just minutes after takeoff at around 2:20 p.m. disaster struck.
The Huey, with 12 souls on board, lost all engine power midair.
Witnesses on the ground reported hearing a loud bang followed by the chopper spiraling out of control.
It crashed on a local farm named Shamba la Amani, bursting into flames just 1.3 nautical miles from its last landing site.
Despite the rapid response by residents and nearby KDF personnel from Samu Forward Operating Base, the fire claimed 10 lives.
Four survivors were airlifted to medical facilities, but tragically, two of them succumbed to their injuries.
The victims included some of Kenya’s finest military officers and support staff men and women who had dedicated their lives to service.
Among the fallen were Brigadier Swale Saidi, Colonel Duncan Keittany, and Major George Benson Magondu, the pilot.
General Ogolla’s death , marked one of the darkest days in Kenya’s military history.
Following the tragedy, the Kenya Defence Forces launched a full Board of Inquiry (BOI) to uncover the cause.
Twelve witnesses, including three eyewitnesses and two survivors, were interviewed.
The findings revealed a chilling truth: the crash was caused by an engine malfunction a compressor stall that led to complete power loss.
Despite the crew’s attempt to land safely, they lost positive control of the aircraft before impact.
Both the captain and co-pilot were highly trained and experienced, with a combined total of over 2,600 flight hours.
The helicopter itself had passed multiple inspections, with its last scheduled servicing just days before the accident.
Weather conditions were favourable, and all communications were fully functional.
In short, every box had been checked until the engine failed.
The machine and its history
The Board emphasized that while the aircraft had a strong service history and the mission was adequately planned, the unexpected engine failure proved catastrophic.
The final report declared definitively: “The Bell UH-1H-II (Huey) Helicopter KAF 1501 crashed due to Engine Malfunction.”
In response, the Kenya Air Force has swiftly revised its Standard Operating Procedures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As President Ruto received the report, the weight of the nation’s grief was evident.
The legacy of General Ogolla and his fellow fallen comrades will live on not just in medals and monuments, but in the reforms their sacrifice has inspired.
Their mission may have ended in tragedy, but their memory fuels a renewed commitment to safety, service, and national unity.
