KDF: Engine failure downed chopper that killed Gen Ogolla, not pilot error
The late General Francis Ogolla, who was Kenya's Chief of Defence Forces.
A Ministry of Defence probe into the death of Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla and 9 others in April 2024 is complete and the verdict is out: the helicopter suffered engine failure.
Consequently, the report rules out pilot error and absolves Major George Benson Magondu, the pilot, and Captain Sora Mohamed (co-pilot) of blame.
The probe, whose report was handed over to President William Ruto on Friday, had analysed six factors that could have caused the accident before settling on engine failure.
This was due to the noises the Huey helicopter made before the crash and a finding that there was excessive heat inside the engine. This heat, investigators from the military deduced, contributed to a loss of power.
“The helicopter then experienced a complete power loss which was followed by a left yaw, drop in engine RPM (revolutions per minute), low RPM audio alarm and change in engine noise, as narrated by witnesses on the ground and accident scene reconstruction,” said the board’s report released on Friday.
“Based on facts and evidence gathered, and indicated in the findings above, the board of inquiry is of the opinion that the Bell UH-1H-II (Huey) Helicopter KAF 1501 crashed due to engine malfunction,” the report said.
“Consequently, in accordance with the recommendations of the BOI, Kenya Air Force has updated and reviewed its Standard Operating Procedures to avert future occurrence.”
President William Ruto and Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya with the probe report at State House on April 11, 2025.
General Ogolla’s aircraft crashed at around 2.20pm on April 18, 2024, in Sindar village, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Others in the aircraft were Brigadier Swale Saidi (Commander of the Combat Engineers Brigade), Colonel Kasaine Ole Kuruta (staff officer at Defence headquarters who survived the crash), Colonel Duncan Keittany (staff on operations side of Defence headquarters), Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe (staff officer for Infrastructure); Major George Benson Magondu (pilot) and Captain Sora Mohamed (co-pilot).
There was also Captain Hillary Litali (General Ogolla’s Aide-de-Camp), Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi (flight technician), Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi (General Ogolla’s Security), Sergeant Rose Nyawira (General Ogolla’s media team) and Cpl Frankford Karanja Mogire (General Ogolla’s media team and survivor).
The two survivors were a pivotal part of the investigation. They were queried by the inquiry board that also spoke with 12 witnesses.
eondieki@ke.nationmedia.com