From left: Sergeant Rose Nyawira, Major George Magondu and Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi who died alongside Chief of Defence Forces Gen Francis Omondi Ogolla in a helicopter crash on April 18, 2024.
There are times when Norah Keitany convinces herself that her husband is out for work and will return. Her mind refuses to consider him dead, even with his burial having happened on April 27 last year.
But the fact is that Colonel Duncan Keitany will never return home again. The widow will be raising their three children alone.
“It is not easy to lose a loved one, more so the father of your children who used to be a decision maker at home. At times I tend to think that he has gone to work and will come back home as usual. To be sincere, life for us has been tough since his demise last year,” Mrs Keitany says.
Her husband, who was based at the Defence Headquarters, was among the 10 Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel who died on April 18, 2024 when a military chopper crashed at Sindar village in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla lost his life alongside some members of his office and both pilots.
Apart from Gen Ogolla and Col Keitany, the eight others were Brigadier Swale Saidi, Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe, Major George Benson Magondu, Captain Sora Mohamed, Captain Hillary Litali, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi, Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi, and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.
On Friday, a report on the investigations into the incident singled out engine failure, saying the Huey helicopter suffered an engine compressor stall before going down as its pilots sought to find a clear landing zone.
A year later, the families of the departed soldiers are facing various difficulties.
Colonel Duncan Keitany’s family (from left) Norah Keitany (wife), and children Mitchell Yegon, Mercy Jebiwot, Lorraine Yegon and Rayan Yegon at their home in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County
In the case of Colonel Keitany’s family that is based at Eldama Ravine in Baringo County, the widow said discussing the death of her husband with her children has not been easy. They end up shelving the topic, she said, and discussing other topics as they cannot stand it.
“One of my daughters recently told me she couldn’t sleep because she was thinking of her dad. His death has affected us so much and we are yet to get through it… It is really tough,” she noted.
According to the Kalenjin culture, she noted, a family is supposed to give out the belongings of a deceased person, like clothes, to relatives and friends. However, in her case, she has found it difficult to part with them because it rekindles the memories with her husband.
“I remember when KDF requested me to surrender his uniform. At the time, it was very painful for me. I really cried because that was the same uniform I used to wash and iron every weekend. It has made it difficult for me even to iron my own nowadays because the things we used to do together, the decisions we used to make together and the way we could sit as a family are just but memories now,” said Mrs Keitany.
“At times you may not realise that the presence of a father is very key and that is something I feel like people should honour…No matter how he behaves or does, he is a father. I just thank God because his grace has been sufficient to me and my children,” she added. “We thank God for the years we had with him and the things he did, including donating his land at our rural home for the construction of a church.”
She said that after the burial, the KDF has not visited them, though a few of her husband’s former colleagues sometimes get in touch with her.
Norah Chebet Keitany wife to the late Col Duncan Keitany who died in a military chopper crash, speaks during an interview at their home in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County on April 23, 2024. Not much is written on the experiences of wives of military men and how they cope with loss.
“I feel like the State should support our children because he was the breadwinner. They should not leave us on our own. It is good at times to keep in touch and not forget us. The only person who does so is the late general’s wife, Aileen, who checks on us,” said Mrs Keitany.
Mr Vincent Keitany, the late colonel’s brother, argued that now that the Defence ministry has revealed that the chopper crashed due to an engine malfunction, the State should compensate the immediate family members because he was a breadwinner and he died while on duty.
The colonel was the first born in a family of six. Being the first born, the brother said, Colonel Keitany played a key role in supporting them and was not only a breadwinner to his siblings but to the entire extended family.
“If there was any compensation that was given, we should be made aware because we are in the dark. The colonel was a breadwinner and he used to support in paying school fees for children of needy family members. When he died, help stopped,” said the colonel’s brother.
The late Major George Benson Magondu.
In Nyeri County, the family of Major George Benson Magondu, the pilot of the helicopter, is also facing tough times.
His mother Mary Wambui said life after the crash has been “tough and unforgiving”, especially for Major Magondu’s young family.
“His three children always remember the good things about their father,” she says. “They try to imitate everything he used to do — including working out like he did. A year is such a short time to forget someone like him.”
Major Magondu’s grandmother, Judy Nyokabi, is stung by his absence.
“He was a special friend, and very generous with his time,” she says.
Now surrounded by her great-grandchildren — who bear a striking resemblance to their late father — Nyokabi misses the little things the most: the knocks on her gate, the surprise visits, and the calls he never failed to make before heading out on duty.
“He was very consistent,” says the grandmother. “Every time he was on leave or about to be deployed far away, he would always check in.”
Judy Nyokabi, the grandmother of the late Major George Magondu, the pilot of the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla on April 18, 2024, during an interview at her rural home in Kariminu, Nyeri County, on April 11, 2025.
Major Magondu was only 29 when he started his family. His mother remembered him as a mature, responsible, and driven young man.
“He wanted to be a pilot from the time he was in Class Four. He knew exactly what he wanted,” recalls his mother.
“His goodness hurts me so much,” she added. “He was so down-to-earth. You wouldn’t even know he was a major unless someone told you. He never wore his title.”
Following the tragedy, the KDF offered support to the grieving family, especially to his widow who is also serving in the military.
“The support came in quicker than we expected,” said Ms Wambui. “They helped with the burial and processed benefits in good time.”
Now, the family’s hopes rest on the future — particularly for the young widow and her children.
“Our prayer is that the KDF continues to support her. She’s still young, still in service, and raising children,” Wambui says. “The State should consider promoting her so she can continue to provide for them.”
The late Sergeant Rose Nyawira.
In Kirinyaga County, the family of Sergeant Rose Nyawira is battling to cope with her death and to raise a young boy she left behind.
“Life has not been easy without our beloved daughter, we are yet to recover from shock,” said Mrs Irene Wanjiru, the mother of the fallen soldier.
When Sergeant Nyawira perished, she left behind a son who is now being looked after by the grandparents. The child is now four years old and in school.
“Nyawira was also a single mother. My husband and I are the ones who take care of her child. We work hard to fend for the orphan and it is not an easy task,” said Mrs Wanjiru.
The family said it has not heard from the KDF since the death and burial of Sgt Nyawira, who was attached to General Ogolla’s media arm.
“The KDF has not spoken to us since the departure of our daughter. They have not even disclosed to us what caused the accident which also claimed the lives of other soldiers,” said Ms Wanjiru.
She continued: “I think the KDF don’t disclose everything about what happens to the soldiers while on official duty. I think they keep some of the issues secret.”
The family want to be compensated as Sgt Nyawira died while on duty.
“If the government compensates us, we shall appreciate,” added Mrs Wanjiru.
However, the family admitted that they received Sgt Nyawira’s employment benefits from the State.
“We are grateful to the government because we got the late Nyawira’s employment benefits without delay,” said Mrs Wanjiru.
In Siaya County, the family of Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi is yet to get any communication from the KDF. Due to the sensitivity of the matter, no one was willing to discuss the matter.
Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi.
Other victims of the crash were buried in various locations across Kenya. Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe was buried in Nandi; Captain Hillary Litali in Bungoma while Senior Sergeant John Mureithi was laid to rest in Kirinyaga. Two of them – Brigadier Swale Saidi and Captain Mohamed Sora – were buried on day after the crash.
Reporting by Mercy Mwende, George Munene, Florah Koech and Kassim Adinasi
