A new report by the Kenya Defence Forces has finally revealed what caused the tragic helicopter crash that killed General Francis Ogolla, the Chief of Defence Forces, along with nine other officers.
The crash happened almost a year ago in Elgeyo Marakwet County, and many Kenyans have been waiting for answers.
According to the report, which was released by the Ministry of Defence on a Friday, the helicopter went down because of an engine malfunction.
The helicopter involved in the accident was a Kenya Air Force Huey Helicopter, known as KAF 1501. It was being used to transport General Ogolla and his team shortly after they had completed a security mission in the North Rift.
This mission was part of the ongoing Operation Maliza Uhalifu, which focuses on fighting banditry and improving security in troubled regions.
Investigators found that the helicopter’s engine experienced what is known as an Engine Compressor Stall or Surge.
This is a serious issue that can cause a sudden loss of engine power. Some witnesses said they heard a loud bang from the engine area just before the helicopter began to lose control.
During the investigation, experts managed to reconnect the helicopter’s Measured Gas Temperature gauge, which showed an extremely high temperature of 914 degrees Celsius.
This high reading confirmed that the engine had failed.The report explained what happened after the engine stalled. The aircraft began to yaw to the left, its engine speed dropped, and a warning alarm went off to indicate the low revolutions per minute.
The engine also made different sounds, which helped investigators match what was heard with what likely happened in the air. The crash site was then used to reconstruct the final moments of the flight.
The helicopter crew, who were said to be experienced and well-trained, tried their best to steer the aircraft to a safe landing area. Unfortunately, they were unable to regain control.
The helicopter crashed and exploded in a field called Shamba la Amani. This happened just minutes after it had taken off from Cheptulel Boys High School in Marakwet East. The incident took place on 18 April 2024 at about 2:20 in the afternoon.
Twelve people were on board the helicopter, but only two survived. One of the survivors is believed to have been a photographer. The helicopter model, Bell UH-1H-II Huey, had a solid record of use in Kenya.
It had been serving both military operations and VIP transport needs since 2016. It was provided through a military support programme from the United States and was built by Bell Textron Aerospace.
Those who lost their lives alongside General Ogolla were Brigadier Swaleh Said, Colonel Duncan Keitan, Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe, Major George Magondu who was the pilot, Captain Sorah Mohamed, Captain Hillary Butali, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua, Sergeant Cliffonce Omondi, and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.
The helicopter was completely destroyed, and the damage was classified as Category Five, which means it was beyond repair.
This report gives closure to a tragedy that shook the nation and explains how even well-maintained and trusted aircraft can fail unexpectedly.
It also highlights the dangers faced by military personnel during operations, even outside direct combat situations.
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