General Francis Omondi Ogolla (1962–2024) had a four-decade career in the Kenyan military, rising to the highest possible rank and command position before his untimely death in a military accident.
Advertisement
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Francis Omondi Ogolla |
| Born | February 12, 1962, Nyanza Province, Kenya |
| Died | April 18, 2024 (aged 62), Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya |
| Branch | Kenya Air Force (KAF) |
| Highest Rank | General (Four-Star) |
| Key Command | Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) (April 2023 – April 2024) |
| Former Roles | Commander of the Kenya Air Force (2018–2021); Vice Chief of Defence Forces (2021–2023) |
Military Career and Commands
-
Joining the Forces: General Ogolla joined the Kenya Defence Forces in 1984 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Kenya Air Force (KAF).
Advertisement
-
Fighter Pilot: He trained as a fighter pilot with the US Air Force and became a highly respected combat pilot. He was also a graduate of the École Militaire de Paris and the National Defence College of Kenya.
-
Key Appointments: His senior roles included leading the KAF as Commander from 2018 to 2021 and subsequently serving as the Vice Chief of Defence Forces (VCDF).
-
CDF Appointment: He was appointed Chief of Defence Forces by President William Ruto in April 2023.
Role in East Africa and Diplomacy
As CDF, General Ogolla played a crucial role in Kenya’s security and peacekeeping efforts across the region:
-
Counter-Terrorism: He was directly involved in combatting threats posed by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, leading KDF efforts in Somalia as part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
-
Regional Peacekeeping: He was instrumental in overseeing the deployment and operations of Kenyan troops in the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), which was deployed to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with a mandate to restore peace and security in the conflict-hit region.
-
Diplomacy: Ogolla was known for blending his military skill with diplomacy, engaging with regional military chiefs and heads of state to bolster cooperation and coordinate security efforts across the East African Community.
Death in Office
General Francis Omondi Ogolla died on April 18, 2024, in a tragic military helicopter crash in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya, along with nine other military personnel. His death was a major loss for the country and for regional security efforts.