GARISSA, Kenya, May 26 – Two Kenya military officers who were injured in Tuesday’s helicopter crash at the Somalia border are in stable condition, Department of Defense officials have said.
Military Spokesman Bogita Ongeri told Capital News on Wednesday that the two were airlifted to the Forces Memorial Hospital where they were undergoing treatment.
“They are not badly off. They sustained soft tissue injuries,” he said when reached on telephone.
“Two others were treated and discharged at the local hospital and are already back to work,” he added.
The officers were conducting aerial patrol along the Kenya-Somalia border when their helicopter crash-landed at Hulugho police station, in Ijara district.
Mr Ongeri denied reports that the plane was shot down by Al-Shaabab militiamen as earlier claimed by some sources and local media.
“You don’t expect a plane to be shot down and fail to catch fire; that amounts to propaganda. The problem was a result of a malfunction,” he said.
Two months ago, a military helicopter carrying President Mwai Kibaki and other senior government officials developed a malfunction shortly after take-off, forcing them to abandon it.
Air mishaps involving ancient-helicopters for the police and military commonly used by top government officials including President Mwai Kibaki have become common in Kenya, raising questions over their safety and efficiency.
