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The body of the late General Francis Ogolla has arrived at the Obama K’Ogello Primary School in Ngi’ya Village, where a memorial service will be held before his burial.

Upon arrival, the remains were received by members of the defence force, while local residents gathered were heard wailing in grief as the hearse passed by and as it arrived in the school.

Francis Ogolla body’s escort

The hearse was part of a convoy led by military police and escorted by motorbike outriders. A minibus carrying family members accompanied the procession. This journey began after the body landed at Kisumu International Airport at around 8:15 am, with the convoy traveling by road to Siaya.

Upon reaching the memorial site, the service began with opening prayers, welcoming remarks, eulogies, and tributes from family, friends, and colleagues.

The late General Ogolla will be laid to rest at his home in Mor, Alego in Siaya County, following his expressed wish to be buried within 72 hours of his passing. His relative, Joel Rabuku Ogolla, confirmed this detail, sharing that the General’s will specified a rapid burial.

Traffic disruptions were observed in several areas across the Nyanza region as the procession made its way to Siaya.

Roads were closed and police escorts were used to ensure a smooth journey. Hundreds of residents from Kisumu and Siaya Counties lined the streets to pay their respects, with some carrying tree branches and wailing as the convoy passed by.

General Ogolla’s career in the Kenya Defence Forces began in 1984 when he joined as a 2nd lieutenant in the Kenyan Air Force. He trained as a fighter pilot with the US Air Force, eventually becoming the Commander of the Kenya Air Force in 2018. He later served as the Vice Chief of Defence Forces before being appointed as the Chief of Defence Forces by President William Ruto in April 2023, after the retirement of General Robert Kariuki Kibochi.

The late General was an accomplished graduate of institutions such as the École Militaire de Paris, the National Defence College of Kenya, Egerton University, and the University of Nairobi.

He was also a recipient of prestigious honors, including the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (EGH) and the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS).

General Francis Ogolla’s death

General Ogolla passed away in a helicopter crash on April 18, 2024, in Sindar, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, around 2:20 pm. Nine other military personnel also lost their lives in the tragic crash, with two others injured.

The helicopter, a Bell UH-1H Huey II operated by the 53 Tactical Helicopter Squadron of the Kenyan Air Force, was on a mission to reopen schools in the North Rift region following bandit attacks and to inspect troops engaged in stabilization operations.