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Military helicopter crash kills Kenya’s defence chief, 9 other top brass

  • Helicopter crashed and caught fire in a remote area near the border with Uganda, killing 10 people on board
  • It is unclear what caused the crash, which occurred as the military delegation had been visiting soldiers

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General Francis Ogolla, who was among 10 people killed in helicopter crash. File photo: AP
Agence France-Presse

Kenya’s defence chief and nine other top brass died on Thursday in a military helicopter crash in a remote area of the country, President William Ruto said.

“Today at 2.20pm, our nation suffered a tragic air accident … I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of General Francis Omondi Ogolla, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces (CDF),” Ruto told reporters.

The president, who had convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council after news of the accident emerged, said nine other “gallant military personnel” on board were also killed while two survived.

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Ogolla, 61, a trained fighter pilot, had only been in the post for a year but was shortly due to mark 40 years of military service.

A ceremony for those who died in a military helicopter crash. Photo: William Ruto via Facebook
A ceremony for those who died in a military helicopter crash. Photo: William Ruto via Facebook

Ruto said the Kenya Air Force had dispatched an investigation team to establish the cause of the crash, which took place in Elgeyo Marakwet county, about 400km (250 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi.

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