The death of Kenyan army chief General Francis Ogola has shocked the country after President William Ruto announced the sad news on Thursday. Ogolla was confirmed dead in a helicopter crash in Kaben, Marakwet East on Thursday. Ogolla was named the new head of the defense forces in a military reshuffle in April 2023. He succeeds General Robert Kibochi who left after 62 years. Prior to this appointment, General Ogolla was Deputy Chief of Defense Forces.
General Francis Ogolla Positions in Army
On April 28, 2023, President William Ruto promoted Lieutenant General Francis Omodi Ogola to the rank of General and appointed him as Chief of the Kenyan Armed Forces.
General Francis Omodi Ogola joined the Kenya Defense Forces on 24 April 1984 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 6 May 1985 and posted to the Kenya Air Force. He trained as a pilot with the USAF and as an instructor pilot with the Kenya Air Force (KAF).
He was also trained in other areas including photo intelligence, counter-terrorism and accident investigation.
General Francis Ogolla is a graduate of the Paris Military School and Kenya National Defense. He holds a degree in International Studies and Military Science from Egerton University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Armed Conflict and Peace Studies (First Class Honors) and a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi.
He rose through the ranks to become a major general and was appointed Commander of the Kenya Air Force on July 15, 2018, a position he held for three years. He has previously held various training, command and staff positions including Deputy Commander Kenya Air Force, Commander Laikipia Air Base, Chief of Tactical Fighter Wing, Chief Aviation Instructor at the Kenya Air Force and Operations Air Training School. Kenya Air Force officer.
He also served in the former Yugoslavia as an observer and military intelligence officer from 1992 to 1993, as president of the Christian Military Community from 1994 to 2004 and co-president of the Association of Chiefs of African air between 2018 and 2019.
He had a wife, Eileen, and was blessed with two children and one grandchild. He loved reading and playing golf.
The CDF or Chief of Staff is the most senior military officer in the Kenya Defense Forces and the chief military advisor to the President of Kenya and the National Security Council.
President William Ruto has explained his reasons for appointing Ogola as the new Chief of Defense Force (CDF).
According to Ruto, Ogolla’s experience of over 39 years saw him promoted to the highest office in the country’s military to replace Robert Kibochi who retired.
“In considering your appointment, I assessed your background, where you come from, what you have done and your military background, and I am convinced that you are worthy,” Ruto said.
“My call is for one force, one mission. We will be one force united with one objective: to ensure defense and remain faithful to our motto of defense always,” Ogola declared during his speech. oath.
As part of his mission, he said he would continue to work closely with other security agencies.
