Kenya’s military chief, Gen Francis Omondi Ogolla, has died after a military helicopter crashed in the west of the country, President William Ruto has announced.
Ogolla was in the helicopter alongside eleven other military personnel. Reports has it that two people survived.
In a news conference, President Ruto said it was a “tragic moment”, and disclosed that Kenya Air Force has dispatched an air investigation team to ascertain the cause of the crash
He had earlier convened an urgent meeting of the country’s security council.
Ruto said the crash happened at 14:20 local time (12:20 BST).
Ogolla – Kenya’s highest-ranking military officer and the chief military adviser to the president – was described as a gallant officer who died in the line of duty.
The nation will observe three days of mourning, commencing on Friday 19 April. The flags in the Republic of Kenya and in Kenyan missions abroad will fly at half mast, Mr Ruto said.
Nine others killed in the crash were senior military officers while the two survivors are in critical condition and undergoing treatment.
The officers had travelled to Kenya’s North Rift region, which has been plagued by banditry and were on a mission to reopen some of the schools closed following bandit attacks.
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