A spotlight on the biography of the late General Francis Ogolla has shown that he was a man who rose through the ranks armed with determination and dedication to service.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the late Chief of Defense Forces General Francis Ogolla joined the Kenya Defence Forces on 24 April 1984.
He was commissioned as the 2nd Lieutenant on 6 May 1985 and was posted to Kenya Air Force. He trained as a fighter pilot with USAF and as an instructor pilot at the Kenya Air Force (KAF).
He also trained in other fields including imagery intelligence, counter terrorism and accident investigation.
General Francis Ogolla was a graduate of ÉcoleMilitaire de Paris and National Defence College of Kenya. He held a Diploma both in International Studies and Military Science from Egerton University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Armed Conflict and Peace Studies (First Class Honors). He also held a Masters of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi.
General Francis Ogolla rose through the ranks to become a Major General and appointed the Commander Kenya Air Force on 15 July 2018 a post he has served for three years.
Previously he had held various appointments in Training, Command and Staff including Deputy Commander Kenya Air Force, Base Commander 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.
He also served in the former Yugoslavia as an Observer and Military Information Officer from 1992 to 1993, as chairman of Military Christian Fellowship from 1994 to 2004 and co-Chair of Association of African Air Chiefs between 2018 and 2019.
On April 28, 2023, General Francis Ogolla was promoted from the position of Lieutenant to the rank of General and appointed and was Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF) by President William Ruto.
His swearing in ceremony and investiture of ranks was held on Saturday 29th April 2023 at State House, Nairobi. Prior to this appointment General Francis Omondi Ogolla was the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces.
On April 18, 2024, at around 2.20pm, General Ogolla died in a Kenya Defense Forces chopper crash that occurred at Sindar area in Kaben location, Tot division, in Elgeyo Marakwet County. He died at the age of 61. The crash also killed nine other soldiers who were in the ill-fated chopper with the General.
General Ogolla was married to Aileen, and was blessed with two children and a grandson. His hobbies included reading and playing golf.