Kenya has been thrown into mourning following the death of its military chief, General Francis Omondi Ogolla in a plane crash.
Ogolla perished Thursday April 18, alongside five other senior military officials in a helicopter crash that went up in flames in Elgeyo Marakwet.
President William Ruto who confirmed Ogolla’s death said the plane carrying the General and other commanders took off from a primary school in Elgeyo Marakwet shortly after 2pm. Witnesses said it went down at Kaben area shortly afterwards.
“I am deeply saddened to announce the passing on of the Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla Omondi,” President William Ruto said and declared three days of mourning during which flags will fly at half mast.
General Ogolla, who took over from General Robert Kibochi in April 2023 when he was appointed by President Ruto, had a distinguished career spanning decades.
A fighter jet pilot by training, he joined the Kenya Defence Forces in April 1984 and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in May 1985, starting his journey in the Kenya Air Force.
Throughout his illustrious career, General Ogolla rose through the ranks, taking on various challenging assignments. He underwent extensive training, including as a fighter pilot and instructor pilot with the United States Air Force, and received instruction in areas such as imagery intelligence, counter-terrorism, and accident investigation.
Ogolla held 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 degree in International Studies from the University of Nairobi. He further honed his skills at prestigious institutions like the École Militaire de Paris and the National Defence College of Kenya.
Throughout his career, General Ogolla held various key positions, including Deputy Commander of the Kenya Air Force, Base Commander of 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. His leadership and expertise were instrumental in developing and implementing training programs and operational strategies that significantly enhanced the effectiveness of the Kenya Air Force and the Kenya Defence Forces as a whole.
