Kenya was thrown into mourning after the death of Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla on April 18, 2024, in an air crash.

Cregory Boen who has since been identified as the first respondent recounted the turn of events moments before the crash.

Speaking to the media, Boen said that he had been working at his farm for the better part of Thursday, April 18. In his narration, the man said that military choppers landed at a nearby school at around 10 am.

At around 2.00 pm, he was having lunch with his family when they saw one of the aircraft pass over them. But its rotors were not rotating and the crew members were in constant communication.

“The propellor was not rotating and the crew members were trying to land it,” he said.

What followed, according to the witness, was a loud bang. They then rushed to scene where they tried to rescue the casualties. However, the choppers’ remains had already caught fire which slowed down their efforts.

Bernad Kipkorir, another resident in Kaben area of Elgeyo Marakwet county, gave his accounts on what transpired before and after the crash, stating that they heard a loud bang towards 2pm and rushed to the scene.

According to him, residents had witnessed unusual air activities with several helicopters flying over their homes. Then they suddenly heard a loud bang at around 2pm, raising an alarm that saw locals rush to the direction of the sound.

“Choppers were flying around, they were busy with their routine activities and towards 2pm, we heard a loud bang,” a witness who spoke to the media narrated.

“We rushed to the site of the scene, and we were able to save the lives of three personnel who were on board, and we rushed them to Endom Mission Hospital emergency treatment and thereafter they were airlifted for further treatment.”

Residents shocked by unusual activity

David Kisang, another resident expressed his shock while narrating the incident he said took place as they were preparing their farm for the planting season.

“We got the news about the air crash accident that happened in Sindar, Kaben. This incident has shocked us as we were preparing our farms for the planting season.”

“As a community, we unite with fellow Kenyans to condone with the families of the deceased,” said Kisang.

One more resident also expressed his shock saying that they have never witnessed such an occurrence aside from the ongoing insecurity in the area.

Also Read: Bell Huey: Details of Chopper General Ogolla Was Using

“This is the first time we’ve experienced such an incident, aside from the insecurity in this area and it has come as a shock to the residents of Kaben,” Daniel Korir said in part.

“We want to say sorry to the world and Kenyans for losing such prominent figures,” he said.

General Ogolla’s Plane Crash

The general died while on a mission to counties in the North Rift under the operation Maliza Uhalifu.

Also Read: 5 Questions Raised Over Chopper Crash that Killed CDF Ogolla

Ogolla and his compatriots were aboard the Kenya Air Force Huey Helicopter. According to reports, the chopper had taken off from a local primary school but crashed shortly after getting airborne. 

He died alongside eleven other KDF officials. President William Ruto conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families while announcing General Ogolla’s untimely demise.

“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 the KDF fraternity,” Ruto spoke.