The family of Colonel Duncan Keitany, one of the Kenya Defence Forces officers who died in the helicopter crash that also claimed the life of Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla, is now pleading with the government for help.
Colonel Keitany died on April 18, 2024, along with nine other KDF officers when their helicopter crashed in Elgeyo Marakwet. One year after the tragedy, his family says they are still suffering both emotionally and financially.
According to a report by Sunday Nation, his widow, Norah Keitany, shared that raising their three children alone has been very painful and challenging.
She said that sometimes she still convinces herself that her husband is only away at work and will return, but the harsh reality always returns.
Mrs. Keitany said life has changed completely since the day her husband died, and she is asking the government to give them support. She said the burden of taking care of their children and managing the home alone has been too heavy for her to bear.
Colonel Keitany’s brother, Vincent Keitany, also spoke to the media. He said that since Duncan died while serving the country, the government should step in and compensate the family. He explained that the Defence Ministry had confirmed the crash was caused by an engine failure.
Because the cause of the accident is known, he believes it is now the government’s duty to stand with the affected families. He added that Duncan was not only a soldier but also a key provider for their entire extended family.
As the firstborn, Duncan supported not just his wife and children but also his siblings and other relatives who depended on him.
Despite the huge loss, the family says they have not received any formal communication or help from the government. They feel forgotten and left behind during a time when they need support the most. In Baringo County, where the family lives, they are still waiting for updates or visits from government officials.
One family member said that if any kind of assistance was offered, they were never informed about it.The family is now calling upon President William Ruto and his government to remember the sacrifice made by Colonel Keitany and the other soldiers who died in the crash.
They believe that just as the soldiers served the nation faithfully, the country must also show loyalty by supporting the families they left behind. For them, time has moved on, but the pain and struggle continue every day. They say the government must act without delay before more families are pushed deeper into pain and poverty.
