A Kenyan military helicopter crashed in the west of the country, killing five soldiers inside on Thursday, a police source said.

Among the passengers aboard the ill-fated helicopter was Chief of Defence Forces  Francis Ogolla, local media reported. However, Gen Ogolla’s fate was not immediately established.

The media reports also said 10 soldiers died on the spot when the chopper hit the ground and burst into flames.

However, three other soldiers on the helicopter were injured and taken to hospital, the police source said, asking not to be named.

The helicopter came down at Sindar in Elgeyo-Marakwet county, the president’s spokesman said, without going into detail on any casualties

“President William Ruto convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council at State House Nairobi this evening following a Kenya Defence Forces’ helicopter crash this afternoon,” Hussein Mohamed wrote on X.

A statement about the crash would be issued soon, government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said on social media. Defence minister Aden Duale did not respond to calls to his telephone.

At least 10 soldiers were killed in June 2021 when their helicopter crashed while landing near the capital Nairobi.

The officials were conducting a tour to assess the security situation and discuss the potential reopening of schools in the volatile border region between West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet.

• A Tell report