Entourage arrives at General Ogolla's home in Mor Village.
He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with about 50 attendants.
Other mourners will witness the burial on screens mounted at the Obama K’Ogello Primary School in Ngi’ya Village.
Ended Updated 21 Apr, 15:08
Live updates: General Francis Ogolla final salute
Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Omondi Ogolla will today be laid to rest at his home in Mor Village, Siaya County. Ogolla, the first CDF to die in office since independence, was killed in a plane crash that occurred on Thursday, April 18, 2024 in Sindar Area, Elgeyo Marakwet County. The crash claimed the lives of 9 other officers who accompanied the General in an official tour of a bandit-stricken North Rift region. On April 28, 2023, President William Ruto appointed Ogolla Kenya’s military boss in accordance with the ‘Tonje Rules,’ a rotational mechanism that governs the selection of the CDF.
Live coverage has ended. Every update from the day is below, newest first.
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General Francis Ogolla's procession leaves from the burial service at Obama K’Ogello Primary School en route to the grave site at Mor Village in Siaya County. pic.twitter.com/P7mrk1pkSN
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 21, 2024
The Final Salute: General Francis Ogolla's body leaves Obama K’Ogello Primary School for final rest in Mor Village.
The CDF will be laid to rest in a private ceremony in his home. Only members of his family, President William Ruto, his deputy, Army officials and selected government officials will be allowed in.
Ogolla will receive a 19-gun salute.
General Ogolla’s son Joel Rabuku urges bloggers to be sensitive when posting reports on social media. He expressed dissatisfaction in how renowned bloggers shared the news of his father’s death.
He has also dismissed claims that President William Ruto did not want to appoint Ogolla and Commander of the Defence Forces.
“Let’s be sensitive” - Joel Rabuku, General Francis Ogolla's son calls out bloggers for breaking news about his father’s crash, sharing videos of burning plane. pic.twitter.com/z8Tiebr0Tg
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 21, 2024
President William Ruto responds to claims that General Francis Ogolla's death could have been an assassination. He has called for thorough probe into the plane crash.
"The aircraft accident investigation team appointed will make sure all details are laid bare on the fatal crash that killed CDF General Francis Ogolla." ~ President William Ruto.
President Ruto: Kenyans will no longer lose their lives because of extrajudicial killings and political assassinations. The aircraft accident investigation team appointed will make sure all details are laid bare on the fatal crash that killed CDF General Francis Ogolla. pic.twitter.com/j82oFEztLy
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 21, 2024
President William Ruto has eulogised General Ogolla as a consummate military officer, a passionate commander and a patriotic citizen of Kenya of great humility and integrity.
"General Ogolla was appointed as the CDF in Kenya because of his credentials, his integrity his profesionalism and he stood tall and deserved the appointment. I was very proud working wit this man, Gen. Ogolla. I know for sure that I made the right decision to appoint him and if I had another chance to appoint him, I would appoint him again as the CDF of Kenya." ~ President William Ruto
Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga speaks on the death of General Francis Ogolla following chopper crash.
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 21, 2024
"In this region, we have had many accidents and cases of assassinations of leaders. When such things happen, we are suspicious; we want to know the truth." pic.twitter.com/fLurJMwR5S
Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua and James Orengo have also called for investigations into crash that killed General Ogolla.
Ogolla's sister Peris Onyango reveals the General wanted to be buried in 48 hours, but changed it to 72 hours of his death
"He told me Peris a soldier can die anytime. So if I die I want to be buried within 48 hours. And then I said 'what do you mean' then he said Peris I know you can give them problems so I'm adding you more hours let it be 72," Peris said.
Ogolla's daughter Lorna describes her father as a determined man in what he did and would take on challenges without fear of failing.
"He once swallowed a fish bone, it got lodged into his intestines and he was hospitalised for two months. He was sneaking out of Defence Forces Memorial with my mom, to Alliance Française to take his French exams so that he doesn't disappoint the Government of Kenya.”
Charlene Ruto describes General Ogolla as a mentor and champion for young people in Kenya.
Lorna Achieng’ Omondi invites Charlene Ruto to pay tribute to his father, late CDF General Francis Ogolla.
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 21, 2024
"Kenya has lost a Chief of Defence Forces, but as young people, we are deeply saddened because we have lost our mentor and champion." pic.twitter.com/o37MoEiPsf
General Ogolla's body arrives at Obama K’Ogello Primary School in Ngi’ya Village, Siaya County.
The casket carrying the body of the CDF has been removed from the hearse and placed on a gun carrier.
CDF General Francis Ogolla's casket moved from the hearse to the gun carriage as procession proceeds to the burial service at Obama K’Ogello Primary School in Ngi’ya Village, Siaya County. pic.twitter.com/raZ6oyaaOd
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 21, 2024
Convoy makes brief stop for General Ogolla’s father, Mzee Joel Oyeyo to pay his last respect.
Mzee Oyeyo, who marked his 100-year-old celebration on Saturday could not attend his son’s state funeral in Nairobi.
Mourners witness convoy with General Ogolla's body nearing Ng'iya, where a funeral ceremony will be held.
The Military burial rites are expected to be held at a private ceremony in General Ogolla’s home.
Only designated mourners will be allowed in the home where the General will receive a 19 -Gun Salute before his body is laid to rest.
President William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto arrive at Obama K’Ogello Primary School in Ngi’ya Village.
President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto arrive at the Obama K’Ogello Primary School in Ngi’ya Village, Siaya County, for General Francis Ogolla's burial service. pic.twitter.com/nojV0b3VWr
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 21, 2024
Army officials from a number of African nations are also in attendance.
General Francis Ogolla's procession heads to Siaya County, where a funeral ceremony will be held at the Obama K’Ogello Primary School in Ngi’ya Village. pic.twitter.com/L5vD0QX1Gj
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 21, 2024
Ogolla's body is expected to arrive at the Obama K’Ogello Primary School in Ngi’ya Village, where a funeral ceremony will be held.
A military plane carrying the body of the CDF landed at the Kisumu International Airport at 8.00 am.