Kenya military helicopter crashes with defence chief on board: Police

Ten people, including Kenya's defence chief lost their lives in a helicopter crash on Thursday (Apr 18) after the aircraft came down minutes after take-off, announced President William Ruto.

The helicopter had been on a visit to military personnel who were deployed in northwest Kenya to fight the endemic cattle rustling.

The incident occurred minutes after the aircraft left Cheptulel Boys Secondary School in West Pokot County, said Ruto.

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"Today at 2:20 pm, our nation suffered a tragic air accident... I am deeply saddened to announce the passing on of General Francis Omondi Ogolla," he said.

"Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals," he told a news conference. "The demise of General Ogolla is a painful loss to me... A distinguished four-star general has fallen in the course of duty, and service to country."

However, he said two soldiers who survived the crash were rushed to hospital further adding that a probe was launched into the matter to ascertain the cause behind the incident.

Ogolla, who previously used to head the Kenyan Air Force, became the deputy military chief before being promoted to the position of Kenya's military chief.

Ogolla joined the Kenya Defence Forces in the year 1984, where he trained as a fighter pilot with the United States Air Force and as an instructor pilot at the Kenya Air Force (KAF), as per a Defence Ministry profile.

(With inputs from agencies)