Who is General Francis Ogolla?
National
By
Winfrey Owino
| Apr 18, 2024
News of the death of the Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Omondi Ogolla on Thursday, April 18 shocked the country.
The departed CDF was born on February 12, 1962, in Siaya County.
General Francis Ogolla died in a KDF helicopter crash in Elgeyo Marakwet while in the line of duty alongside nine other military officers.
He goes down history as the shortest-serving Chief of Defence Forces, having held the position for barely a year.
The late General is survived by his wife Aileen Ogolla and their two children.
READ MORE
Why affordable communication is key to AfCFTA
Behind-the-scenes rush as clock ticks for sale of Bamburi Cement
Pension industry seeks to flex its muscle in large State projects
Treasury goes for UAE loan as IMF cautions of debt situation
Traders claim closure of liquor stores, bars near schools punitive
Adani fallout is a lesson on accountability and transparency fight
Sustainable finance in focus for Kenyan banks as Co-op Bank feted
What forcing Google to sell Chrome could mean
He holds a Diploma in International Studies and Military Science from Egerton University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Armed Conflict, and Peace Studies (First Class Honours), and a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi.
He also attended the École Militaire de Paris and the National Defence College of Kenya.
He was appointed Chief of the Defence Forces on April 28, 2023, succeeding his predecessor, Robert Kibochi. He was then sworn in a day later.
Before his appointment, General Francis Omondi Ogolla was the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces.
General Ogolla joined the Kenya Defence Forces on April 24, 1984, and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on May 6, 1985, and posted to Kenya Air Force.
He trained as a fighter pilot with USAF and as an instructor pilot at the Kenya Air Force (KAF). He also trained in other fields including imagery intelligence and counter-terrorism.
Gen.Ogolla rose through the ranks to become a Major General and was appointed the Commander of Kenya Air Force in July 2018, a post he has served for three years.
He previously held various appointments in Training, Command, and Staff including Deputy Commander at Kenya Air Force, Base Commander at Laikipia Air Base, Commanding Officer of Tactical Fighter Wing, Chief Flying Instructor at Kenya Air Force Flying Training School, and Operations Desk Officer at Kenya Air Force Headquarters.
He also served in the former Yugoslavia as an Observer and Military Information Officer from 1992 to 1993, as chairman of the Military Christian Fellowship from 1994 to 2004, and as co-chair of the Association of African Air Chiefs between 2018 and 2019.