Kenya’s chief of defence forces Gen. Francis Ogolla died in the afternoon of April 18 in a chopper accident while on active military duty in western Kenya at the border of West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties. Gen. Ogolla was in the company of 11 other top military personnel, nine of whom also perished in the unfortunate chopper crash, leaving only two critically injured survivors. There is currently an active military operation to deal with bandits and cattle rustlers in the area.
While confirming the incident that evening, Kenya’s President William Ruto announced three days of mourning in the country, directing that all national, East African, and military flags, fly at half-mast throughout the country and in all its consulates abroad.
“Today at 2; 20 pm, our nation suffered a tragic air accident at Sindar area, Kaben location, Tot division, in Elgeyo Marakwet County. I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of General Francis Omondi Ogolla, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces. Together with him in the crash were eleven other gallant military personnel, 9 who also passed on and two survivors,” President Ruto said in a televised address to the nation.
Those who died alongside Gen. Ogolla in the plane crash include Brigadier Swale Saidi, Colonel Duncan Keittany, Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe, Major George Benson Magondu, Captain Sora Mohamed, Captain Hillary Litali, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi, Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi, and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.
President Ruto mourned Gen. Ogolla, who was his chief military adviser as a gallant officer who had died in the line of duty.
“Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals, gallant officers, service men and women,” President Ruto said in a national address on Thursday evening.
According to the head of state, Gen. Ogolla was in the line of his work tour, where he had been briefed on the security situation by a multi-agency team stationed at Chesitet in Baringo County, after which he proceeded to the Kainuk Forward Operating Base in Turkana County, where he addressed troops, commending them for their resilience and operational successes.
“The CDF and his entourage departed from Kainuk to Chesegon, West Pokot County, where he launched the rehabilitation of Cheptulel Boys High School. He then departed Chesegon for the Recruits Training School in Uasin Gishu County, where he was scheduled to inspect construction facilities at the institution. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed shortly after take-off,” President Rutto said.
He took over office, succeeding Gen. Robert Kibochi last year after being sworn into office on April 29 and becoming Kenya’s shortest-serving army general, having served under one year; and the first to die while in office in the East African country’s history.
The accident raised concerns among a section of Kenyan citizens, with opposition leaders questioning why a senior military officer would lead the rehabilitation of a school, while also questioning the suitability of the military choppers, saying that there have been several crashes in the past 12 months.
“As Azimio, we are deeply concerned that the KDF has had several other accidents in the last 12 months, including yesterday’s. This must be thoroughly investigated,” said Martha Karua, the opposition co-leader and 2022 deputy presidential candidate.
The crash was the fifth military aircraft accident in just 12 months and was not the first time that a chopper had killed senior military and government officials in the country. In 2012, an internal security cabinet minister was killed in a plane crash alongside his deputy, Orwa Ojde, shortly after leaving the Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
Since Kenya’s Constitution does not grant a vacancy in the military, Kenyan Navy Lieutenant General Charles Muriu Kahariri, who had been serving as Gen. Ogolla’s Vice, has just been appointed as the new Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) in an acting capacity until a substantive appointment is made.
A four-star general, Gen. Ogolla worked his way from a junior officer in the Kenya Defense Forces to the apex, becoming the senior-most officer. He joined the Kenya Defence Forces as an Officer Cadet on May 2, 1984, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on May 3, 1985, upon which he was posted to Moi Air Base in Nairobi, where he later trained as a pilot.
Gen. Ogolla held several command, staff, and instructional appointments during his service. At command, he was the commanding officer of Laikipia Air Base Tactical Flight Wing in 2007 and also the base commander of Laikipia Air Base from 2008 to 2014.
Upon promotion to brigadier on April 10, 2012, he was appointed the deputy Air Force commander and later promoted to major general on July 13, 2018, and appointed commander of Kenya Air Force. He was also appointed the vice chief of the Defence Forces, a position he held until April 28, 2023, when he was promoted to the rank of general and appointed chief of the Defence Forces.
Due to his dedication to service, the late Gen. Ogolla was awarded several medals, among them Moran of the Golden Heart (MGH), Elder of the Burning Spear, Head of State Commendation, and other awards.
Gen. Ogolla is survived by a widow, Mrs. Aileen Kathambi Ogolla, and two children; Lorna Achieng' Omondi and Joel Rabuku Omondi Ogolla; daughter-in-law, Muthoni Njenga Mwaura and a grandson, Taji Mbarara.
His burial arrangements have already started, with his burial date set for Sunday, April 21, in line with his wish that he be buried within 72 hours of his demise, according to the family. He will be buried in his Ng’iya rural home in Kenya’s Siaya County.
