Kenya’s military chief Francis Ogolla was k!lled along with nine officers when their helicopter crashed in western Kenya shortly after taking off on Thursday afternoon, President William Ruto said in a news conference.
“Today at 2:20 p.m., our nation suffered a tragic air accident … I am deeply saddened to announce the passing on of General Francis Omondi Ogolla,” Ruto told reporters, adding that 11 others were on board and only two survived.
Ruto said the air force has dispatched an air investigation team to establish the cause of the crash, which was about 400 kilometers northwest of the capital Nairobi.
Ogolla was previously the head of the Kenyan air force, before rising to deputy military chief and then being promoted by Ruto last year to head the military.
