The Air Force has sent an investigation team to determine the cause of the crash that killed General Francis Ogola.
A Kenyan military commander has died in a helicopter crash in the country's northwest, President William Ruto announced.
General Francis Ogola and nine others were killed in the crash at 2:20pm (11:20am Japan time) on Thursday in Elgeyo-Marakwet district, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi. .
The military plane was visiting troops deployed to northwestern Kenya to combat cattle rustling and descended minutes after takeoff near Cheputureru Boys' Secondary School in West Pokot County.
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear.
“The motherland has lost one of its bravest generals,” Ruto said at a press conference. “General Ogola's death is a painful loss for me.”
The president said two soldiers survived the crash and were hospitalized, adding that an aerial investigation team had been sent to determine the cause of the accident.
Ogola previously served as commander of the Kenya Air Force, was later promoted to deputy military commander, and was promoted to military commander by Ruto last year.
The general joined the military in 1984 and trained as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force and as an instructor pilot in the Kenyan Air Force, according to his Ministry of Defense profile.
When Ruto promoted Ogola to the military's top job a year ago, he accused him of being part of a conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election, but said he was the best person for the job.
Dozens of civilians and police officers have been killed in violence in northwestern Kenya.
In June 2021, at least 10 soldiers were killed when a helicopter crashed while landing near Nairobi.
