Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen has clarified reports that he has formed a team to probe the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) chopper crash that killed Chief of Defence Forces, General Francis Ogolla and nine others.
In a statement on X, Murkomen said that his docket is only involved in probing crashes involving civilian aeroplanes.
“As a department of transport, we don’t investigate military planes. Our work is strictly restricted to civilian aeroplanes,” he said.
The CS added that this includes private and commercial aeroplanes.
He further stated that it is KDF’s mandate to investigate the cause of the crash.
“As you heard from the President yesterday, it’s the exclusive mandate of the Kenya Defence Forces to investigate accidents involving military aircraft. My Ministry deals with purely civil aviation both private and commercial which is non-military and non-state aviation,” he said on X.
Murkomen’s clarification follows remarks by a section of leaders and social media claiming that he was tasked with forming the team to probe the crash.
On Thursday, as President William Ruto announced the CDF’s death as a result of the crash, he also announced that KDF had constituted a team to investigate the cause of the crash.
The team is from within the Kenya Air Force and was constituted by Lt. General J. M Omenda.
The accident occurred on Thursday evening.
President Ruto also announced a 3-day national mourning for CDF Francis Ogolla.
The General was laid to rest on Sunday at his Ng’iya home, in Siaya County.
He was interred with 72 hours, as his will stated.
