In a somber turn of events, Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Francis Omondi Ogalla, along with other officials, perished in a tragic helicopter crash. The incident occurred on Thursday in Kaben, Marakwet East, when the Huey II helicopter they were aboard went down at 14:20 local time (11:20 GMT).
General Ogalla, a distinguished military leader, had joined the Kenya Defence Forces on 24 April 1984 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 6 May 1985. His nearly four decades of service were marked by dedication to his country’s security and cooperation with international allies.
The ill-fated aircraft was a Bell UH-1H Huey II, an upgraded version of the multi-mission, medium-lift helicopter designed for a variety of operations including troop transport, search-and-rescue, and firefighting. Acquired from the United States in 2016, these helicopters were intended to bolster the Kenyan military’s counter-terrorism capabilities.
On that fateful day, General Ogalla was overseeing military operations against cattle rustlers and bandits in the Rift Valley. The crash site, located in Elgeyo Marakwet county, some 400km northwest of Nairobi, became the center of a swift response by the Kenyan air force, which dispatched an air investigation team to determine the cause of the accident.
The loss is deeply felt across the nation and beyond. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan of the United States commemorated General Ogalla’s role in Kenyan-U.S. relations, highlighting his efforts in combatting terrorism and fostering regional cooperation.
This incident marks the fifth military aircraft accident in Kenya within a span of 12 months, underscoring the challenges faced by the Kenyan air force in maintaining a diverse fleet acquired from various international sources. The repeated losses due to accidents, mechanical faults, or enemy fire call attention to the pressing need for investment and support to enhance the air force’s capabilities and safety.
On July 16, 2020, an MD Helicopters (Hughes) MD500E scout and utility helicopter of the Kenyan Army on 13 July crashed at Kithyoko, Ma halos County. The crash, killed both aircraft pilot, with the cause yet to be ascertained.
On June 24, 2021, A Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Mil Mi-171E training helicopter (5Y-SDL) crash landed at Buna Waji County today, leaving the aircraft badly damaged.
On November 20, 2023, another Mil Mi-171E multirole helicopter crashed in Buna, Wajir County.
These crashes highlights the risks and challenges that the Kenyan air force faces in fulfilling its mandate, and the need for more investment and support to enhance its capabilities and safety.
The Kenyan air force, now facing the task of modernizing its ageing helicopter fleet, must navigate the complexities of maintenance and operational readiness. The fleet, consisting of various models like Pumas, Mi-17s, Huey UH-1Hs, and others, represents the diverse challenges of keeping a multi-sourced military aviation wing aloft.
The Kenyan air force has been facing challenges in maintaining and modernising its ageing helicopter fleet, which consists of various models, such as Pumas, an Mi-17, Huey UH-1Hs, AS550C3 Fennecs, AW139s, AS350 Fennecs, MD530Fs.