Piece by: PERPETUA ETYANG

18 April 2024

• The President said the death of Ogolla is painful to him and Kenyans in general.

President William Ruto has announced a three-day national mourning period for the late Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla.

The President said Ogolla died Thursday afternoon alongside nine other military officers at Tot, Elgeyo Marakwet.

"In honour of the life and the distinguished military career of the fallen General, who lost his life not just while in office but in active military duty, the nation will observe a period of three days of mourning commencing tomorrow the 19th of April, 2024," the President said in a televised address to the nation from State House, Nairobi.

The President said during the period of national mourning, the Kenyan flag and that of the Kenya Defence Forces, the East African Community and flags of all formations of the military shall fly at half mast in Kenya and Kenyan missions abroad.

Ruto said that following the crash, Kenya Air Force constituted and dispatched an air investigations team to establish the cause of the air crash.

The President said the death of Ogolla is painful to him and Kenyans in general.

"This is a moment of great sadness for myself, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, the Kenya Defence Forces fraternity and the nation at large," he said.

"Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals, gallant officers, service men and woman. The demise of General Ogolla is a painful loss to me, and certainly, the sorrow we all feel about his passing is shared by all the people of Kenya, and especially the KDF fraternity."

The President described Ogolla's death as the demise of a four-star general who has fallen in the course of duty and service to the country.

"I convey my deepest condolences to all families who are grieving this untimely loss and our mourning nation. May the Almighty Lord rest their souls in peace and grant their families fortitude at this time of deep sorrow. I also wish a quick recovery to the two injured soldiers in this accident."

The President gave a chronology of events leading up to the death of the CDF and nine other military officials at Kaben in Tot subcounty of Elgeyo Marakwet County.

He said Ogolla boarded the Kenya Air Force Huey Helicopter and left Nairobi Thursday morning.

He said the CDF was on a trip to visit troops deployed in the North Rift under Operation Maliza Uhalifu and to inspect the ongoing school renovation works in five schools.

The President said Ogolla was to inspect Chesitet Primary School, Cheptulel Boys High School, Chepoton Primary School, Ksaa Primary School and Sablimoi Primary School as part of his working tour.

"The CDF had been briefed on the security situation by a multi-agency team stationed at Chesitetin Baringo County, after which he proceeded to the Kainuk Forward Operating Base in Turkana County, where he addressed troops, commending them for their resilience and operational successes," Ruto said.

The President said Ogolla and his entourage then departed from Kainuk to Chesegon in West Pokot County, where he launched the rehabilitation of Cheptulel Boys High School.

He said he then departed Chesegon for the Recruits Training School in Uasin Gishu County, where he was scheduled to inspect construction facilities at the institution.

Unfortunately, the the President said the aircraft crashed shortly after take-off at 2.20pm.