General Francis Ogolla was the Chief of Defence Forces in Kenya, appointed in April 2023 after serving as the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces.
He was a graduate of ÉcoleMilitaire de Paris and the National Defence College of Kenya.
Ogolla had over 39 years of experience in the military, rising to the rank of Major General and serving as the Commander of Kenya Air Force from 2018 to 2021.
He was married and had two children and a grandson.
Ogolla was killed in a helicopter crash in Kaben, Marakwet East on April 18, 2024, while surveying the area ahead of the planned deployment of more troops to battle cattle rustlers.
Who was Gen Francis Ogolla married to?
Ogolla’s wife is Aileen Ogolla.
They have two children together and share a life that includes visits to Kenya Defence Forces troops and families undergoing medical care, as well as involvement in organizations like the Military Christian Fellowship and the Military Wives Association of Kenya.
Children
Ogolla is survived by two children including a daughter named Lorna Omondi Ogolla.
In a post on LinkedIn, Lorna mourned his late dad saying, “My father. Pursuer of excellence. Most empathetic and effective leader and statesman just went down in chooper crash in West Pokot doing what he did best for the better part of the last 40 years – trying to keep Kenya safe
“One day I shall tell beautiful stories of how he taught with his actions and not his words but today, I rush home to send him off to the great beyond.”
Education
Ogolla is a graduate of the National Defense College of Kenya and the École Militaire de Paris.
He has a diploma from Egerton University in both international studies and military science.
Ogolla also holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in Political Science and Studies of Armed Conflict and Peace from the University of Nairobi and a master’s degree in international studies from the University of Nairobi.
Early career
Ogolla enlisted in the Kenya Defense Forces on April 24, 1984.
On May 6, 1985, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the Kenya Air Force.
Ogolla trained as a fighter pilot with the USAF and as an intructor pilot with the Kenya Air Force (KAF).
He received training in a variety of other disciplines, such as counterterrorism, accident investigation and image intelligence.
Ogolla advanced through the ranks to become a Major General, and on July 15, 2018, he was named Kenya Air Force Commander, a position he has held for three years.
Advancing through the ranks
Prior to his appointment as CDF, Ogolla served as vice chief of the defense forces.
He has also held high ranking positions in training, command and staff included those of deputy commander of the Kenya Air Force and base commander of Laikipia Air Base.
Ogolla also served as commanding officer of the Tactical Fighter Wing, Chief Flying Instructor at the Kenya Air Force Flying Training School and Operations Desk Officer at Kenya Air Force Headquarters.
In addition, from 1992 to 1993, he worked in the former Yugoslavia as an observer and military information officer.
From 1994 to 2004, Ogolla led the Military Christian Fellowship, and from 2018 to 2019, he co-led the Association of African Air Chiefs.
Cause of death
Ogolla died following a chopper crash at the Kaben-Cheptulel border between Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot counties on April 18, 2024.
The Kenya Air Force Huey helicopter chopper was carrying 11 people at the time it went down – nine people including Ogolla died while two survived.
