Former Commander in Chief Francis Ogolla perished in a helicopter crash on 18 April 2024 at 2:20 pm in Elgeyo-Marakwet County. The CDF died alongside 9 other military personnel who were on board the ill-fated chopper.
The helicopter was a Bell UH-1H Huey II operated by the 53 Tactical Helicopter Squadron of the Kenyan Air Force. The tragic accident occurred while they were on a mission to reopen schools destructed by bandits in the North Rift and to inspect soldiers involved in stabilisation operations.
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Little known facts about the late CDF Francis Ogolla
Age: Francis Ogolla was born on February 12, 1962 in Elgeyo Marakwet. He died on April 18th, 2024 at Elgeyo Marakwet through a helicopter crash. At the time of his death, he was aged 61.
Family: He was married to Aileen. The two were blessed with two children and one grandchild.
Career: He joined the military as a cadet officer on April 24, 1984, and was later commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on May 6, 1985. He wasa US Air Force-trained fighter pilot and served as a Kenya Air Force pilot.
Education: Francis Ogolla pursued Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Armed Conflict, and Peace Studies at the University of Nairobi and graduated with first class honours. He furthered his Education in the same institution and attained a Master of Arts degree in International Studies.
He also holds a Diploma in International Studies and Military Science from the Egerton University. The KDF chief also attended École Militaire de Paris and the National Defence College of Kenya.
Religion: Francis Ogolla was a staunch Christian. During his career, he served as chairman of the Military Christian Fellowship from 1994 to 2004.
According to reports, Ogolla built Masumbi ACK church in his hometown and sponsored children around the area.
Hobbies: Francis Ogolla loved to spend his free time reading and playing golf.
Accolades: Throughout his stint in the Kenyan military, Ogolla received several military awards and recognitions including the Order of the Burning Spear (OBS), the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (EGH), the African Union medal and the United Nations Medal for Peace.
