Senior military personnel, including Francis Ogolla, the Chief of Defence Forces, lost their life in a terrible military helicopter crash in the Sindar area, close to the border between West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet. This is not the first such incident.
In recent years, there have been a number of these events all around the nation.
Wajir County was rocked by two distinct incidents on November 20, 2023. While delivering exam materials to Arbajahan, a commercial helicopter crashed at Wajir International Airport, another military helicopter on a relief food supply mission crashed during takeoff in Buna, Wajir North.
Two pilots from the Kenya Defence Forces were hospitalized earlier that month after their helicopter crashed in the Kisamis area of Kajiado West. This happened after a power cable was struck by a Kenya Air Force Fennec helicopter on November 9 while it was on its way to Nairobi.
A helicopter carrying officials accompanying Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on a security tour of the dangerous territory crashed in Chemolingot Stadium, Baringo County, in July 2023. Luckily, despite the helicopter striking a tree after takeoff, everyone on board—including government officials—escaped unscathed.
When a military helicopter crashed in Kajiado in June 2021 while on a normal training exercise, at least ten Kenya Defence Forces troops perished. The helicopter circled for more than twenty minutes before it crashed, attempting to evacuate those who were onboard.
These military helicopter mishaps have raised questions about the aircraft’s upkeep, safety, and operational standards.
