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The late Captain Hillary Litali's parents have spoken for the first time since the death of their son, who also died alongside Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla.
Dickson and Evelyne Litali narrated how they each received the news and their last conversation with their son.
The captain's mum, Evelyne, said she was in church when she overheard people talk about a plane crash and inquired more.
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"Hillary was the breadwinner of this family. I was in church, and I found two people discussing, and when I asked, they asked if I had not seen the plane accident. They told me the KDF head was dead. I then remembered my son had told me he was brought to that office a month ago," she said.
Litali's mum then took her phone to call her son but he was off, her efforts to reach her other son were also futile as his phone was also switched off.
Then, her husband called and told her that the preacher was waiting for her at the gate, so she should rush home.
They then switched on the TV and waited for more details because they could not reach their son.
"Indeed, God has taken away a child who was the shining star of this house. He was a child we raised with godly principles, who respected everyone, and who was hardworking. He had promised me that he would come in May so we could go and do roofing in our house and get me settled," she added.
Evelyne added that her son was poised for a promotion as he had just finished his studies in January and was told to wait patiently.
On the other hand, the late captain's dad recalled a friend sending him social media posts and asking him to check.
Still, he turned that down and waited for official communication from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
"I started getting messages of his passing from 4 pm through social media. Someone sent me a list and asked me to check on YouTube and I told him I won't do it. It was until 7 in the evening when some officers came over and told us the news," he said.
Dickson also recalled the last time he saw his 29-year-old son when he travelled home for the Easter break.
He narrated that the late captain drove them to Kitale for the weekend, where they planted maize, and then drove them back and spent a night at their Nakuru home before leaving for Nairobi the next day.
However, on Monday this week, Captain Litali alerted his father via phone that he would be heading to Elgeyo Marakwet for work and talked to him a day before their take-off.
"Yesterday (Wednesday), he told me they had left for a work function, and we wished him all the best in his work, and that was the last time I talked to him as my son, him telling me he was going to Elgeyo Marakwet," he further said.
Watch the video below:
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
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