Raila Odinga appoint two MPs to investigate CDF Ogolla’s death!

On Tuesday, April 23, the Azimio Coalition, under the leadership of Raila Odinga, announced the establishment of a joint Parliamentary inquiry team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident and subsequent passing of the late Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Francis Ogolla.

Following the Azimio-One Kenya Parliamentary Group meeting held at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi County, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, speaking on behalf of the coalition, disclosed that Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch and Kitui Senator Enock Wambua had been tasked with leading the inquiry.

Wandayi expressed concerns that the government might be undermining the investigation and emphasized the coalition’s commitment to ensuring a thorough and unbiased inquiry into the matter.

“We have authorised Anthony Oluoch and Enoch Wambua to lead a process of establishing a joint Parliamentary inquiry from both the Senate and National Assembly in the unfortunate death of Ogolla.

“We are seeing worrying signs that Ruto set up a separate investigation team away from one Gazetted by his Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen,” Wandayi stated.

Murkomen appointed a seven-member aircraft investigation team to evaluate Kenya-registered or operated aircraft involved in accidents. On April 19, a military team initiated investigations in West Pokot, where the chopper carrying CDF Ogolla had crashed the previous day.

Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen clarified in a statement that his task force was not assigned to investigate Ogolla’s death.

“It is the exclusive mandate of the Kenya Defense Forces to investigate accidents involving military aircraft,” he explained adding that his ministry only deals with purely civil aviation both private and commercial. 

Azimio Coalition interpreted the situation as a deliberate attempt by the government to undermine the investigations.

A faction of Azimio leaders, headed by Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, had previously urged for an inquiry to eliminate any suspicions of foul play in the general’s demise.

However, Ogolla’s family requested the opposition team to dispel rumors suggesting the general might have been assassinated. More