A devastating helicopter crash has resulted in the loss of Francis Ogolla, the Chief of Kenyan Defence, and nine other esteemed officials.

President William Ruto disclosed that the incident occurred in a remote area of the country on Thursday. Following the tragedy, Ruto swiftly convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council. He lamented the loss of the “gallant military personnel” who were also onboard, revealing that there were two survivors.

President Ruto informed the public that the Kenya Aviation Force has dispatched an aviation investigation team to ascertain the cause of the crash, which took place in Elgeyo Marakwet county, approximately 400 kilometres (250 miles) northwest of the capital city, Nairobi.

The ill-fated helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from Chesegon, where Ogolla and his entourage had been visiting a school. The purpose of the trip was to inspect troops deployed in the North Rift area as part of Operation Maliza Uhalifu (Operation End Crime in Swahili) and other locations.

In response to this tragic event, President Ruto declared three days of mourning, starting from Friday, with national flags lowered to half-mast as a mark of respect.

Ogolla, aged 61, had departed Nairobi on Thursday morning aboard an Air Force Huey helicopter for his visit to the North Rift region. He was appointed as the Chief of the Defence Forces by President Ruto in April of the previous year, following his tenure as Deputy Chief.

Ruto acknowledged that despite Ogolla’s involvement in the attempt to overturn his narrow election victory against opposition leader Raila Odinga in 2022, he still appointed him to the esteemed position. Ogolla, a trained fighter pilot, joined the Kenyan Defence Forces in April 1984 and steadily climbed the ranks, ultimately assuming command of the Kenyan Air Force in 2018, a role he held for three years.