The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) held a solemn memorial service at Moi Air Base in Nairobi on April 17, 2025, to honour the memory of General Ogolla and other soldiers who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on April 18, 2024, in Sindar, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
It has been a year since the tragic death of the Kenya Defence Forces Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Francis Ogolla, alongside nine other military officers.
However, Frankford Karanja Mogire and KDF officer Colonel Kasaine Ole Kuruta survived the crash and have lived to tell the story of their scars.
Kasaine Ole Kurutu, Survivor of the Crash that Killed Ogolla
Colonel Kasaine Ole Kuruta, one of the two surviving personnel from the crash that killed Ogolla, gave an emotional reflection on the journey of healing, both physically and emotionally.
“It’s been 365 days that remind us of the privilege of being alive. I’ve learned to treasure time with loved ones. I grieve in peace, and I choose to live each day in memory of those who couldn’t. I’m deeply grateful to the KDF leadership and medical team who walked with me through my healing,” said Col Ole Kuruta.
In his speech, he expressed deep gratitude to his wife for standing by his side throughout his recovery in the hospital.
“To the families present here, always remember those we lost, for how they lived, how they smiled, and how much they mattered,” he said.
“My brother Frankford, we now carry scars, and a responsibility to live, and to live truly well.”
In November 2024, he made a public appearance at the World Orphans Day commemoration held at Lang’ata Garrison, an event organized by the Military Wives Association of Kenya (MWAK).
Also Read: Military Probe Reveals Cause of Chopper Crash That Killed CDF Ogolla
Frankford Karanja Mogire
On his part, Karanja made a public appearance on April 16, 2025, at the launch of the KDF hospital Ulinzi Prime Health Services Fund (UPHSF) in Nakuru, an event presided over by President William Ruto.
Frankford Mogire was working as a photographer for the Defense Forces and was in line of duty during the crash.
He graduated from Mount Kenya University in 2016 before joining the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and joined the forces as a KDF photographer.
Also Read: Today in History: CDF Ogolla and Nine Other Military Officers Die in Aircraft Crash
Remembering the Soldiers
Chief of the Defence Forces, General Charles Kahariri who took over from Ogolla, affirmed that the enduring legacy of those lost, acknowledging their service, devotion, and the unbreakable bond they created through their sacrifice.
“I urge you to pray for those who act out of ignorance, and for the lives affected by their actions. With prayer, God can transform even the hardest of hearts,” he said.
The legacy of the fallen heroes and heroine lives on; their memory will be etched in the hearts of the KDF fraternity and the nation.
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