NAIROBI, Kenya- The death of Kenya’s former Chief of Defence Forces, General Francis Ogolla, continues to stir political controversy nearly two years after a military helicopter crash claimed his life alongside nine other officers.
While the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) tabled a detailed report outlining the cause of the crash and proposing safety reforms, the tragedy has remained a sensitive national issue, particularly for grieving families and serving officers.
Ogolla – Kenya’s highest ranking military officer – was in the helicopter alongside 11 other military personnel. Only two people survived.
The Wiper boss insists it was not just an accident and that the military boss “was taken out.”
The debate intensified following remarks by opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka during a television interview on Sunday night, in which he questioned the official findings and suggested the incident required further scrutiny, reopening public discussion around the circumstances of the fatal crash.
“I maintain that General Ogolla was taken out,” Kalonzo said.
Kalonzo Musyoka: I maintain that General Ogolla was taken out.#TheKalonzoFactor #NTVWeekendEdition @Karanja_Ibrah
It is those comments that have drawn sharp criticism from Nandi Senator Kiprotich Cherargei, who accused Kalonzo of politicising a national tragedy and dragging the military into what he described as “cheap politics.”
In a strongly worded statement, Cherargei said Kalonzo’s remarks were reckless, misleading and deeply insensitive to the families of the fallen officers.
“This is an insult to the grieving families and to the Kenya Defence Forces,” the senator said, calling on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to summon Kalonzo to record a statement and be held accountable for what he termed misinformation and disinformation capable of inciting the public.
Kalonzo has become inherently desperate that he wants to drag the Kenya defence forces into cheap politics of popularity contest and an insult to the grieving families. For the umpteen time can the Director of criminal investigations (DCI) ensure he records statement on this
Cherargei defended the KDF, noting that the military had already tabled a comprehensive report addressing the causes of the crash and outlining corrective measures to prevent similar incidents in future.
He argued that continued public attacks on the findings risk undermining confidence in national security institutions.
Rather than questioning the military, Cherargei said Kalonzo should use his influence in Parliament to push for increased funding to modernise KDF and police aircraft, warning that many of the existing aircraft are outdated and unsafe.
“Some of these aircraft are flying death traps,” he said, adding that meaningful reforms and investment would be a more fitting response to the tragedy.
Kalonzo Musyoka maintains that General Ogolla was “taken out”.
The exchange highlights the growing political tension surrounding national security matters, as leaders clash over how far public scrutiny should go when addressing military incidents, particularly those involving senior commanders.
