General's three last wishes; sister, brother and daughter eulogise the fallen CDF

Peris Onyango reveals his brother General Francis Ogolla's last wishes.

The Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla’s sister Peris Onyango has revealed the three things her brother wished for upon his death.

Peris made the revelations while eulogizing his brother during the final church service before he is laid to rest at his home in Mor village, Ng’iya, Siaya County.

In her speech, Peris pointed out that General Ogolla was her closest sibling and that they would have hearty chats from time to time.

According to Peris, her brother had asked to be buried in 72 hours, specified where to be buried and that his wife be taken on a holiday afterwards.

“The three things he told me were that a soldier can die anytime, if I die I should be buried in 48 hours but I know you will give people problems so I will add you more time. I will extend it to 72 hours,” Peris told the mourners.

“He then took me to the graveside and pointed for me where he would like to be buried. Then he told me when I die Jeshi (Swahili word for the army) to give mama Achieng’ (his spouse) money to go for a holiday,”

Peris has mourned her brother as a ‘loyal, committed, perfectionist’ who was their mother’s favourite child.

“He was a special child and our mother’s favourite. He was loved too much. When we were being beaten, he would be left. My brother was loyal and committed. He was a perfectionist,” Peris added.

The General’s brother Cannon Hezekiah Oduor is the first born of the children of Joel Oketch Oyeyo and Damaris Okello. General Ogolla was the fifth born, he says.

He has eulogized his brother as a ‘staunch Christian’.

The fallen General’s daughter, Lorna Achieng, has eulogised her father as a ‘committed man, a hard worker who led with actions’.

“When I made a post about my father’s death I promised to speak highly of my father, I did not know the post would go viral. It was just an update to my global family so they do not worry about where I am for months or so,” Lorna said.

“Most of you were wondering how he raised us. What parent raises a child who went to MIT? Our children learn from how we live. I am the way I am today because we saw him do it. That is how he raised a person like me. He worked as if he was working for God and gave 110 per cent in everything he did,”

Lorna narrated to the mourners two instances her father made sacrifices to achieve great things. She says General Ogolla sat in class with people her age, while he was working at Laikipia Airbase and managed to get a First Class.

She has also told mourners how her father once sneaked from the hospital to go and sit for French exams.

“I cannot make sense of this week’s events but I give thanks to God. Let us not mourn his death. I was deeply inspired by his work and pursuit of excellence,” she said.