Memorial service for late CDF Ogolla slated for next Friday » Capital News
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 19 – A memorial service to honor the late Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla will be held next Friday, April 26, his family has said.
The service for Ogolla, who perished alongside nine others following a chopper crash in Elgeyo Marakwet on Thursday, will take place at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, where his family says, Ogolla “found solace in his biweekly runs.”
The commemoration will come five days after his burial, which is slated to take place at his Mor, Alego, home in Siaya County on April 21.
Ogolla’s family disclosed Friday that the late Military Chief Ogolla had left instructions in his will to be buried within 72 hours of his death.
According to sources, the military had been informed of the will and is working within the timelines to ensure it is honoured.
Given the circumstances of his demise while in office, the state has taken over the coordination of the memorial event.
The bodies of General Ogolla and nine other military officers and service men were flown to Nairobi on Thursday night.
Kenya has started three days of mourning the death of its military chief General Francis Ogolla following a helicopter crash Thursday.
President William Ruto declared three of mourning the General and nine other Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel who perished when their helicopter crashed and burst into flames in Elgeyo Marakwet.
President Ruto ordered the lowering of national, regional, and regimental flags to half-mast from Friday.
He described Gen Ogolla’s death as “a painful loss to me.”
Ruto listed the nine officers accompanying Gen Ogolla as; Brig Swaleh Said, Col Duncan Keitan Lt Col David Sawe, Maj George Magondu (Pilot), Capt Sorah Mohamed, CaptHillary Butali, Snr Sgt John Kinyua, Sgt Cliffonce Omondi, and Sgt Rose Nyawira.
“This is a very sad moment, a moment of great sadness for me as the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces; it is a tragic moment for KDF and it is a most unfortunate day for the nation at large,” he said.
“Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant Generals. We’ve also lost gallant officers, servicemen and women.”
The ten officers were travelling in a Huey Helicopter operated by the Kenya Air Force, the Head of State said.
Another two officers survived the crash.
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