- Ogolla and nine other military officers died Thursday afternoon after a military chopper crashed at Kaben in Tot subcounty in Marakwet East.
- The KDF boss, 61, is set to be buried at his home in Mor, Alego in Siaya County on Sunday, April 21.
Image: SCREEN GRAB
The late Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla had a packed weekend ahead of him before he met his death through a tragic helicopter accident on Thursday, family has revealed.
Ogolla and nine other military officers died on Thursday after a military chopper crashed at Kaben in Tot subcounty in Marakwet East.
Speaking on Friday, Ogolla's brother Canon Hezekiah Odour revealed that the military boss had planned to visit their rural home to celebrate their father's birthday.
Oduor said their father will be turning 100 years on Saturday, April 20.
"He was supposed to be in Kisumu and then he was to come join us here on Sunday in preparation for the Sunday service of the consecration of the Church," he said.
"We were doing arrangements here for the 100 years of Mzee tomorrow and also move to the Church for consecration service. It was a very big shock and a big surprise," Oduor said.
The KDF boss, 61, is set to be buried at his home in Mor, Alego in Siaya County on Sunday, April 21.
The family revealed that the burial comes early as per Ogolla's wishes in his Will that he be buried within 72 hours of his death.
The burial will be preceded by a memorial service at his local church in Nduru, the family said.
Ogolla is survived by a widow and two children. He has also left behind a daughter-in-law and a grandson.
Born on February 12, 1962, Ogolla was enlisted into KDF as an officer cadet on May 2, 1984.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on May 3, 1985, and posted to Moi Airbase where he trained as a pilot.
During his career in the KDF, Ogolla held several command, staff and instructional positions.
He was the Commanding Officer of Laikipia Air Base Tactical Flight Wing in 2007 and also Base Commander Laikipia Air Base from 2008 to 2014.
Upon promotion to the rank of Brigadier on April 10, 2012, General Ogolla was appointed the Deputy Air Force Commander and later on promoted to Major General on July 13, 2018 and appointed Commander Kenya Air Force.
The bodies of Gen Ogolla and nine other military officers and servicemen were flown to Nairobi Thursday night.
The remains were received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s Embakasi military hangar where a prayer service was held.
They were then driven in ambulances past midnight to Forces Memorial Hospital for preservation.
Burial preparations have been taken over by the state considering he died in office.
The cause of the crash is yet to be known although President William Ruto announced Thursday night that Kenya Air Force had dispatched a team of experts to start investigations.
The team flew to the scene of accident on Friday to commence the probe, officials said.
The country is meanwhile observing three days of national mourning as announced by Ruto in honour of the fallen General.
"In honour of the life and the distinguished military career of the fallen General, who lost his life not just while in office but in active military duty, the nation will observe a period of three days of mourning commencing tomorrow the 19th of April, 2024," the President said in a televised address to the nation from State House, Nairobi.
The President said during the period of national mourning, the Kenyan flag and that of the Kenya Defence Forces, the East African Community and flags of all formations of the military shall fly at half mast in Kenya and Kenyan missions abroad.