Survivor of Chopper Crash That Killed Former CDF Ogolla Speaks On Aftermath
Addressing fellow officers at Moi Air Base in Nairobi, he said the experience was a turning point that made him truly value time with loved ones
Marvin Chege 
Colonel Kasaine Ole Kuruta, one of the two survivors of the helicopter crash that took the life of former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla, has opened up about his recovery journey since the tragic event.
Speaking at a memorial service held in honour of Ogolla and the nine other military officers who lost their lives in the April 18, 2024, crash, Kuruta shared the powerful life lessons he’s learned since that day.
Addressing fellow officers at Moi Air Base in Nairobi, he said the experience was a turning point that made him truly value time with loved ones. He spoke about the emotional and physical healing process, and emphasised that surviving the crash gave him—and the other survivor—a renewed chance at life.
"Brother Karanja and I carry scars, visible and invisible, but we carry more than just scars, we carry something deeper, a responsibility to live, truly live and live well," Kuruta stated.
Collage of the KDF chopper crash that claimed the life of former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Francis Ogolla on April 18, 2024. /VIRAL TEA KE
Colonel Kasaine said that Ogolla and the nine fallen officers should be remembered not by the way they died, but by the lives they lived and the difference they made in the lives of others.
He also gave a heartfelt shoutout to his wife, praising her for the huge role she played in helping him heal during his recovery at the Defence Memorial Hospital.
"I say thank you, and more so to my beloved wife, who, during the entire time that I was receiving treatment at the Defence Memorial Hospital, stood by my bedside just to have an eye on me and give me the moral support," the Colonel narrated.
He added, "To the families here today, thank you so much for making us carry the memories of your loved one, we remember them not for how they died but for how they lived, they smiled and mattered."
Another individual who survived the crash that also claimed the lives of nine people was Frankford Karanja Mogire, a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) photographer who surfaced for the first time since the chopper crash exactly one year ago.
Mogire got people talking online after he was seen with President William Ruto at the unveiling of a plaque at Lanet Regional Hospital, located within the Kenya Military Academy in Nakuru County.
Wearing a sharp, tight-fitting suit, Mogire was spotted snapping photos of President Ruto during what looked like a regular workday. But the photo stirred debate online, with some Kenyans questioning why he was so close to the president.
In pictures shared by Ruto himself, Mogire was seen in action with two cameras—one in hand and another strapped to his side—while covering the plaque unveiling at Lanet Regional Hospital inside the Kenya Military Academy in Nakuru.
As a KDF photographer, it is Mogire’s job to capture military events, especially those involving the president. Since this was an official KDF event, his presence was expected.
General Ogolla and nine other military officers lost their lives on April 18 last year in a military helicopter crash in the Sindar area of Elgeyo Marakwet County. President Ruto broke the news during a press briefing at State House in Nairobi. While confirming Ogolla’s passing, he paid tribute to him as a dedicated four-star general who served with distinction.
A KDF Chopper before crashing on Thursday, April 18, 2024 and the late CDF Francis Ogolla (inset). /VIRAL TEA KE ARCHIVES
