Frankford Karanja Mogire, a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) photographer and one of the two survivors of the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla, has made his first public appearance nearly a year after the harrowing incident.
Mogire, a former copyeditor and graduate of Mount Kenya University, was seen back in action during President William Ruto’s visit to the Kenya Military Academy in Nakuru County. In a photo shared across the President’s official social media platforms, Mogire is pictured photographing the Head of State during the unveiling of a plaque at the Lanet Regional Hospital.
Clad in a sharp suit and armed with two professional cameras, Mogire’s reappearance has sparked mixed reactions online, with many expressing admiration for his resilience and quiet return to service following a near-death experience.
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The ill-fated crash occurred on April 18, 2024, when a Kenya Air Force Bell UH-1H-II helicopter (registration KAF 1501) crashed in Sindar, Elgeyo Marakwet County at around 2:20 p.m. The aircraft had been ferrying General Ogolla and a group of senior military officials on a mission to assess ongoing security and development operations in the volatile North Rift region.
Tragically, ten military officers, including Brigadier Swale Saidi and Colonel Duncan Keittany, perished in the crash. The Ministry of Defence later confirmed the cause of the crash as a sudden engine failure that led to a complete loss of power mid-flight.
In the aftermath, President Ruto declared a three-day national mourning period starting April 19, 2024, to honour the fallen heroes.
Mogire’s quiet yet powerful reemergence is a testament to courage and commitment — a reminder of those who carry on, not just in uniform, but behind the lens, capturing history in the making.