Kalonzo prepared to give statement on the death of CDF Ogolla

Wiper Democratic Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, has asserted that the death of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Chief General Francis Ogolla was not accidental and expressed his willingness to provide a statement to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Speaking on Thursday to the media, Kalonzo dismissed the recent postmortem findings from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and called for the establishment of an independent inquiry to investigate Ogolla’s death.

The former Vice President raised concerns about the possibility of foul play in the incident, which claimed the lives of 11 individuals, and questioned the reasoning behind the CDF being assigned to inspect primary schools.

"Tell DCI Amin to summon me right now; we will walk across all of Kenya on foot, together with all the Gen Z, because what I was saying is that we are asking simple, basic questions; it is not the CDF's job to be sent to inspect a primary school," said Kalonzo.

Kalonzo dismissed the postmortem report, which suggested that mechanical failure could have caused the crash, emphasizing that both the Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF) and the President are among the most protected individuals in the country.

He argued that if mechanical issues were indeed to blame, it would be a case of criminal negligence.

"I want to make it clear that among the most secure individuals in this country are the Commander-in-Chief, President William Ruto, and the Chief of the Defence Forces. You don’t take these people lightly," he remarked.

“To have a helicopter carrying the CDF crash is not just negligence—it’s criminal negligence. There is no excuse for that. I still insist on an independent commission of inquiry to uncover the truth about General Ogolla's death. Perhaps they thought it was over,” he added.

Kalonzo further suggested that there had been efforts to remove the CDF due to his position in the National Security Council, which he believes warrants further investigation into the incident.

"It is on record that some people had vowed to remove him because he did his duty as a member of the National Security Council," he said.

The Ministry of Defence's recently released report has confirmed that the tragic helicopter crash on April 18, 2024, which claimed the lives of General Ogolla and nine other KDF personnel in Elgeyo Marakwet County, was caused by an engine malfunction.

The report, issued one year after Ogolla's death, stated that the Bell Huey helicopter KAF 1501 experienced a surge, which aligns with witness accounts of a loud bang from the engine compartment.