Defence CS Monica Juma visits troops involved in Kajiado Helicopter crash

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 26 – Days after after a military helicopter crashed killing several Kenya Defence Forces soldiers and injuring others, Defence Cabinet Secretary Amb (Dr) Monica Juma on Saturday paid them a visit at the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital (DFMH).

The MI 17 1 E Kenya Airforce Helicopter crashed on Thursday, while on a training exercise.

Juma comforted the soldiers, while at the same time passing her message of condolences following the death of their comrades.

While visiting the soldiers in various wards, Juma encouraged the injured soldiers to have faith and remain steadfast in the midst of the misfortune. She is also assured them of the Ministry of Defence support towards their full recovery.

“I want to commend you for rescuing some of your colleagues before the rescue teams arrived at the site, this lessened the number of casualties,” cs Juma said.

The Mi 17 1E helicopter crashed while landing according to the Ministry of Defence while on training mission at Ol Tepesi, Ngong, in Kajiado county.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday evening also visited and wished quick recovery to the Kenya Air Force soldiers recuperating at the Kenya Defence Forces Memorial Hospital in Mbagathi, Nairobi county.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) spokesperson Col. Zipporah Kioko said all passengers aboard the KAF Helicopter Mi 171 E at 9am were accounted for and moved to safety.

“The injured were airlifted and are at the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital, Nairobi. The entire KF fraternity wishes them quick recovery. Regrettably, following the crash, we suffered fatalities. The process of communicating with the families, to relay the information and KDF condolences are underway,” Col Kioko in a statement.

Aircraft accident investigators were deployed at the crash site to establish the cause of the accident.

According to eye witness account, the helicopter was erratic in movement around Erat shopping center and ended up crashing nearly 7 kilometers away.