Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla on Thursday died in a helicopter crash at the Sindar area of Elgeyo Marakwet County, barely a year after ascending to the position.
President William Ruto in April last year promoted General Ogolla to the rank of General and named him the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) boss, succeeding General Robert Kibochi who retired after attaining the mandatory exit age of 62.
CDF is the highest-ranking military officer in the Kenya Defence Forces and the principal military adviser to the President of Kenya and the National Security Council.
General Ogolla’s appointment was in accordance to the ‘Tonje Rules,’ a rotational mechanism that governs the selection of the CDF. President Ruto was obligated to appoint Ogolla, the then Kenya Air Force Commander, as the next CDF given that General Kibochi hailed from the Army, and had succeeded General Samson Mwathethe from the Navy.
Personal life
Francis Omondi Ogolla was born on February 12, 1962 in Siaya County.
He graduated from the KDF as a cadet on May 2, 1984, rising to second lieutenant a year later before being posted to the Moi Air Base where he trained as a pilot.
He previously held various appointments in Training, Command and Staff including Deputy Commander at Kenya Air Force, Base Commander at Laikipia Air Base and Commanding Officer of Tactical Fighter Wing.
Other positions the late CDF held include Chief Flying Instructor at Kenya Air Force Flying Training School and Operations Desk Officer at Kenya Air Force Headquarters.
General Ogolla also served in the former Yugoslavia as an Observer and Military Information Officer from 1992 to 1993, and as chairman of the Military Christian Fellowship from 1994 to 2004.
He has also served as co-chair of the Association of African Air Chiefs between 2018 and 2019.
The late General was married to Aileen Ogolla, and blessed with two children and a grandson.
His daughter, Lorna Amondi said her father did his best for the better.
“My father. Pursuer of excellence. Most empathetic and effective leader and statesman just went down in chopper crash in West Pokot,” she said in a post on social media.
“Doing what he did best for the better part of the last 40 years – trying to keep Kenya safe. One day I shall tell beautiful stories of how he taught with his actions and not with words. But today – I rush home to send him off to the great beyond.”
Ogolla hobbies included reading and playing golf.
Path to appointment as CDF
General Ogolla was promoted to Brigadier on April 10, 2012, and subsequently appointed the Deputy Air Force Commander.
On July 13, 2018, he was further promoted to Major General and appointed Commander of the Kenya Air Force.
Ogolla was then on July 23, 2021 promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces. He held this position until April 28, 2023 when President Ruto promoted him to the rank of General and appointed Chief of the Defence Forces.
Ogolla’s experience spanning over 39 years in the military saw him promoted to the high office in the country’s military.
“My clarion call is for one force, one mission. We shall be one force knit together with one purpose of providing Defence and remaining true to our motto of Ulinzi Daima,” he stated hi mission when he was appointed.
Academic grounding
General Ogolla is a military science graduate from École Militaire de Paris and the National Defence College of Kenya.
He also holds a diploma in International Studies and Military Science from Egerton University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Armed Conflict, and Peace Studies.
The late CDF further held a Masters of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi.
He has previously received presidential awards such as Moran of the Golden Heart (MGH), Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS), and taken home a Head of State Commendation.
Officers at Lanet barracks have described him as a social person who took time off his busy schedule to train and jog with the KDF football team, Ulinzi Stars.