President William Ruto on Thursday, April 18, confirmed the demise of Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla alongside 10 other officers of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in a chopper crash.
The passing away of the General has gripped the country with sorrow and mourning, marking a first of a kind incident in Kenya’s history.
Ogolla’s death is a matter of great significance, and despite the official announcement and confirmation by the President, many questions have remained unanswered.
Many Kenyans have expressed that they will only be able to come to terms with the death of the celebrated general, if and when sufficient information is provided to explain the incident.
“In the fullness of time, we await information on what caused the crash. KDF, if we cannot secure the CDF then who is safe?” posed Azimio Principal Martha Karua.
Why Did CDF Ogolla Have to Go on The Mission”
The General left Nairobi aboard the chopper to visit troops deployed in the North Rift under Operation Maliza Uhalifu, and to inspect the ongoing school renovations works.
Some Kenyans have argued that it was a job that could have been easily done by one of his juniors, questioning why the highest-ranking officer had to go.
According to Ruto’s announcement, Ogolla had been briefed on the security situation by a multi-agency team before he began his Turkana tour.
“The CDF and his entourage departed from Kainuk to Chesegon, West Pokot County, where he launched the rehabilitation of Cheptulel Boys High School.
“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 aircraft crashed shortly after take-off,” Ruto reported.
It is important to note that weeks before the ill-fated tour, on March 30, President William Ruto met top security officials at his private home in Kilgoris including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to discuss the escalating security challenges in the North Rift.
During the meeting, they agreed on changing the leadership command structure and additional air support for the operations.
Also Read: Last Moments of Late CDF Ogolla Before KDF Chopper Crash
What Happened to the Chopper?
Kenya Air Force the Bell UH-1B helicopter, nicknamed the Huey Helicopter, left Nairobi without any reported technical issues. So, what happened to the chopper? Any why did the CDF use one helicopter, especially in the company of 11 other officers?
In several other instances, Kenya Air Force 50 ACB helicopters have often accompanies officers going into battle and some individuals, including Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino, have questioned why that was not the case for the tour.
Although the exact cause of the accident in not yet known, Ruto said that “the Kenya Air Force had constituted and dispatched an air investigations team, to establish the cause of the air crash.”
Why did Ruto Appoint Him Despite their Differences?
President William Ruto promoted General Francis Ogolla to the rank of General and named him the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) in April 2023, despite revelations by former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati that he did not support him.
According to Chebukati, Ogolla that he was among the people who asked him to alter the results of the 2022 general elections in favor of Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga or force a run-off.
However, against the wishes of other Kenya Kwanza officials, Ruto appointed Ogolla, asserting that he was the right man for the job because of his qualifications and experience.
“I appointed General Ogolla, he was among the people who went to Bomas to try and overturn my victory. Do you know that? But because when I looked at his CV, he was the best performer to be general,
“I called him, and I sat him down, I told him he went to Bomas to try and overturn my victory but because you are the best performer to be general, I am going to give you the job. That is how it works for me,” Ruto said during a past interview.
The big question among Kenyans has been why the accident occurred shortly after new appointments and promotions in March 2024.
Ogolla was yet to clock a year in office as CDF.
Also Read: CDF Francis Ogolla Confirmed Dead
Why So Many KDF Chopper Crashes?
The incident was the fifth KDF helicopter crash in the past 12 months raising concerns over the status of Kenya’s military equipment.
On November 9, 2023, an AS 550 C3 Fennec crashed in Ol Tepesi, Kajiado, shortly on November 20, 2023, a Mi 171e helicopter crashed in Buna, Garissa during patrols for Operation Amani Boni.
Another incident occurred when a Bell UH-1M Huey 2 crashed in Lamu county, and on July 20, 2023, when an AS 550 C3 Fennec delivered crashed in Chemolingot, West Pokot while accompanying Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
Questions have also been raised on why the incidents have continued after the government transferred the management of civilian-owned aircraft to the military in December 2020.
Who will Succeed Ogolla?
Ogolla was due to retire in 2024, unless the head of state renewed his term and according to military succession rules, his replacement would come from the Kenya Navy.
However, reports have indicated that since Ogolla’s term had not yet elapsed, his replacement could be in acting capacity.
For one to become the CDF, they should have served in the next rank of lieutenant general, which makes one a three-star general.
Major General Jimson Longiro Mutai who was recently promoted to the rank of lieu- tenant general and appointed Vice- Chancellor of the National Defence University.
He was expected to replace Ogolla, but that couldn’t occur until he served as a lieutenant general, even if only for a day.
In the latest changes, President Ruto promoted Brigadier Thomas Njoroge Ng’ang’a to the rank of major general and designated him as the Kenya Navy Commander.
Additionally, Ruto reassigned seven senior officers within the KDF, based on recommendations from the Kenya Defence Council.
Lieutenant General Juma Shee Mwinyikai was assigned as the Commandant of the National Defence College, while Major General Mohammed Nur Hassan, previously serving as Deputy Army Commander at the Kenya Army headquarters, and Major General Aphaxard Muthuri Kiugu, previously serving as Commandant of the Kenya Military Academy, were appointed to new roles.
According to standard practice, General John Mugaravai Omenda and General Tarus are the probable deputies to Vice Chief of Defence Forces Kahariri.
Their promotions could potentially be accelerated, allowing General Tarus to assume the role of Vice Chief of Defence Forces (VCDF) and later Chief of Defence Forces.
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