- Four aircrafts flew over the Stadium as one of them veering off towards the sunset, to symbolise the great loss of a fighter pilot and general.
- The KDF choir led the audience in the hymn It Is Well before they all honored Ogolla with one-minute silence.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Members of the Kenya Defence Forces have honored the late Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla with a 19-gun Salute.
During the military honor and service held at Ulinzi Sports Stadium in Langa'ta, KDF officers stood in groups as they fired the guns.
At the same time, the national Anthem was playing.
Ogolla was described as a four-star general and a man of honor and humility.
A 19-gun salute is done in honour of dignitaries such as vice presidents, Senate and National Assembly speakers, chief justices, state governors, chiefs of staff, four-star generals and five-star generals in the US.
Even though real guns are involved, a military funeral and other honour guards do not fire live artillery shells but blanks.
Prior to the gun salute, the KDF performed a reville and the missing wingman formation, which is an aerial salute performed at a funeral or memorial service in memory of a fallen military service member.
Four aircrafts flew over the Stadium as one of them veering off towards the sunset, to symbolise the great loss of a fighter pilot and general.
The KDF choir led the audience in the hymn It Is Well before they all honored Ogolla with one-minute silence.
The event was closed with the national anthem and the East African Community anthem.
The late CDF was among the 10 officers who died in a helicopter crash on Thursday on the border between Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gichu counties.
The others included Captain Hillary Litali, Captain Sora Mohamed, Colonel Duncan Keitany, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi, Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi, Major George Benson Magondu, Brigadier Swale Saidi and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.
They were on a peace mission in the troubled Rift Valley region, which has been plagued by cattle rustling and banditry.
General Ogolla's body will be flown to Ng'iya village, Alego Usonga sub-county in Siaya County on Sunday morning for burial the same day.
Defence CS Aden Duale said the country will hold a memorial service on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang’ata, in line with the family’s wishes.