• He asked why Ogolla was assigned a “faulty” chopper and why there was no back-up aircraft in the bandit-prone region.
• Orengo also asked why the senior-most officer was assigned a task beneath him that could have been handled by a subordinate officer.
Image: FILE
Siaya Governor James Orengo has expressed alarm that an apparently mechanically unfit copper without backup allegedly was assigned to General Francis Ogolla who died when it crashed.
He also asked why such a minor mission as school inspection was assigned to the Chief of Defence Forces in a bandit-prone area. The crash was on Thursday at 2.30pm.
The chopper lost power shortly after taking off but the cause has not yet been established.
Orengo on Saturday said as a leader from Ogolla’s home region, he will not shy away from demanding clarity on the circumstances surrounding Ogolla’s death. The chopper lost power and exploded in a fireball when it was taking off after the inspection.
He asked why the Ministry of Education was not involved. The military as a rule does not inspect schools or commission them.
The governor emphasised that the questions about the chopper crash are not trivial, as some of those in government might assume, but require satisfactory answers.
Speaking at General Ogolla’s father’s home in Masumbi on Saturday, Orengo expressed his bewilderment that the general was assigned what he called a faulty aircraft.
He spoke after performing the Luo traditional ritual known as ‘Tero Buru’.
“We will question the type of fuel the chopper was using, the protocol implemented before the general embarked on the journey, and the qualifications of those who were in charge of the chopper,” Orengo said.
The senior counsel reminded the government that if the chopper was heading to a bandit-prone area, the government should have allocated an appropriate aircraft for the mission. Armoured choppers are available and some politicians buy them.
Orengo said the visit was an educational tour and questioned why the Chief of Defence Forces was inspecting the construction of a school, the task for a junior.
“We have schools in Siaya, but no military officer has ever come to inspect our schools after construction or renovation. What was so special about this particular school that the general had to inspect it?” Orengo asked.
The county boss expressed his concern that in all security missions, there is always a commander and there must be a back-up in case of any eventuality. If it’s a plane, then there must be two or three, not a single ‘faulty’ chopper.
“I was not going to a insecurity-prone area, but I was not using one car while coming here, and I’m not a general. Why should the government risk the life of a general by allocating him one chopper for such a delicate mission?” Orengo posed.
He said that even if he is going to a holy place, he must have a standby car. If the car is not available, then he can even a tuk-tuk.
The governor expressed frustration, saying it will not be business as usual if a son of the soil perishes in preventable circumstances with blatant disregard for all security measures.
However, ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo and Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda, who also mourned with the family, cautioned politicians against speculative remarks.
Owalo asked leaders to control their emotions and allow the family to mourn their loved one in peace without stirring up emotions.
The Cabinet Secretary mentioned that the government is ready to ensure a logical conclusion of the investigation into the crash, noting that it would be premature to speculate on the cause of the tragedy.
Ochanda, who also weighed in on the matter, termed such talk cheap political mileage aimed to create unnecessary division between the Luo community and the government.
The Bondo MP asked leaders to always cultivate the seeds of unity in any eventuality instead of always causing flourishing commotion.
The leaders eulogised General Ogolla as a gallant soldier who embraced humility in the line of duty as Kenya’s top military commander.