President William Ruto, on Friday, April 11, 2025, received a report on the helicopter crash that claimed the life of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Francis Ogolla.
The report was presented to the Head of State by Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya at State House, Nairobi.
What caused Ogolla’s helicopter crash
Based on the facts and evidence gathered, the report concluded that the crash was caused by an engine malfunction.
“The helicopter suffered engine compressor stall (surge), consistent with witness reports of a loud bang at the engine compartment. The measured gas temperature (MGT) gauge, when powered, displayed an over-exceedance of 914°C,” read part of the report.
“Consequently, Kenya Air Force has updated and reviewed its Standard Operating Procedures to avert future occurrence,” it added.
Other officers who lost their lives in the April 2024 crash were: Brigadier Swale Saidi – Commander, Combat Engineers Brigade; Colonel Duncan Keittany – Colonel Operations, DHQ; Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe – Staff Officer, Infrastructure, DHQ; Major George Benson Magondu – Pilot; Captain Sora Mohamed – Pilot; Captain Hillary Litali – Aide-de-Camp to CDF; Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi – Flight Technician; Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi – CDF Security; and Sergeant Rose Nyawira – CDF Media.
Where did CDF Ogolla’s helicopter crash?
The CDF was on a tour of the North Rift region when the tragic crash happened. He had visited the soldiers on the Operation Komesha Uhalifu North Rift aimed at flushing out bandits in the volatile Kerio Valley. The late Ogolla had also inspected several schools that KDF was renovating.
His chopper went down a few moments after it took off in West Pokot for Moi Baracks in Eldoret.
Also present when the report was handed to the President were CDF General Charles Kahariri, Vice CDF Lt-General John Omenda, and Kenya Air Force Commander Major-General Fatuma Ahmed.
