Why General Francis Ogolla is being buried within 72 hours of his death

The late Chief of Defence (CDF) Francis Ogolla,62, is set to be laid to rest at his Ng’iya home in Alego Usonga on April 21.

This is according to his family.

Officials also revealed the burial comes early because Gen Ogolla had left a will with instructions that he be buried within 72 hours of his death.

Sources said the military had been informed of the will and are working within the timelines to ensure it was honoured.

The event has been taken over by the state. This is because he died in office.

The bodies of Gen Ogolla and nine other military officers and servicemen were flown to Nairobi on Thursday night.

The bodies were received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s Embakasi military hangar where a prayer service was held.

They were then driven in ambulances to Forces Memorial Hospital for preservation past midnight.

On Friday, two families of those who died visited the mortuary for identification and possible burial as per Islam rites.

The cause of the crash is yet to be known. A team of experts flew to the scene on Friday to commence the probe, officials said.

Ogolla perished alongside eight other military officers Thursday afternoon in a chopper crash in Marakwet East while on a peace mission in various parts of the North Rift region.

Two others, however, survived the tragic incident. The remains of the nine are being preserved in Nairobi.

They were moved from the scene of the crash moments after the incident in an Airforce plane and received at Moi Airbase.

Ogolla leaves behind a widow and two children.

He has also left behind a daughter-in-law Muthoni Njenga and a grandson Taji Mbarara.

Born February 12, 1962, Ogolla was enlisted into KDF as officer cadet on May 2, 1984 and commissioned as a second lieutenant on May 3, 1985, upon which he was posted to Moi Airbase where he trained as a pilot.

During his career in the KDF, Ogolla held several command, staff and instructional appointments.

In command, he was the Commanding Officer Laikipia Air Base Tactical Flight Wing in 2007 and also Base Commander Laikipa Air Base from 2008 to 2014.

Upon promotion to Brigadier on April 10, 2012, he was appointed the Deputy Air Force Commander and later on promoted to Major General on July 13, 2018 and appointed Commander Kenya Air Force.

On July 23, 2021, he was also promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces, a position he held till April 28, 2023, when he was promoted to the rank of General and appointed Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF).

Due to his dedication to service, the late Ogolla was awarded several medals among them Moran of the Golden Heart (MGH), Elder of the Burning Spars, Head of State Commendation (HSC) among others.