By Grace Gilo
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla passed away in a helicopter crash in the Sindar area of Kaben location in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Thursday.
The General was born in Kenya on February 12, 1962 in Siaya County.
He was a distinguished military leader who served as Chief of Defence Forces in Kenya.
He was appointed as the Commander of the Kenya Air Force on July 15, 2018, and served for three years.
The Chief of Defence Forces appointment as per the ‘Tonje Rules,’ a rotational mechanism governing the selection of the CDF.
The President was obliged to appoint Ogolla, the then Kenya Air Force Commander, as the next CDF as General Kibochi hailed from the Army, and had succeeded General Samson Mwathethe from the Navy.
General Ogolla enlisted in the Kenya Defence Forces on April 24, 1984, and was appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant on May 6, 1985.
Subsequently, he was assigned to the Kenya Air Force where he underwent training as a fighter pilot under the guidance of the United States Air Force (USAF).
The general also pursued training in various domains such as imagery intelligence and counter-terrorism, broadening his expertise in these areas.
He served as the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces before he was appointed the Chief of Defence Forces.
General Francis dedicated his life to the military profession, demonstrating exceptional leadership skills and a commitment to excellence.
He is the first Chief of Defence Forces in Kenya to pass away while in office.
In terms of education, he held a Diploma in International Studies and Military Science from Egerton University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Armed Conflict, and Peace Studies (First Class Honours), and a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Nairobi.
He was also a graduate of École Militaire De Paris and the National Defence College of Kenya.
CDF Ogolla was recognized for his expertise in defence and strategy.
He had previously received presidential awards such as Moran of the Golden Heart (MGH), Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS), and a Head of State Commendation.
Until his passing, the late CDF was Kenya’s highest-ranking military officer and served as the principal military adviser to the President and the Cabinet.
The late Ogolla was married to one Aileen Ogolla and had two children and a grandson. The cause of the copter crash on Thursday, April 18th, is yet to be known.