A 4-star career: The life and times of General Francis Ogolla

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla on Thursday died in a helicopter crash at the Sindar area of Elgeyo Marakwet County, barely a year after ascending to the position.

President William Ruto in April last year promoted General Ogolla to the rank of General and named him the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) boss, succeeding General Robert Kibochi who retired after attaining the mandatory exit age of 62.

General Ogolla's appointment was in accordance to the ‘Tonje Rules,’ a rotational mechanism that governs the selection of the CDF.

President Ruto was obligated to appoint Ogolla, the then Kenya Air Force Commander, as the next CDF given that General Kibochi hailed from the Army, and had succeeded General Samson Mwathethe from the Navy.

General Ogolla, born on February 12, 1962 in Siaya County, graduated from the KDF as a cadet on May 2, 1984, rising to second lieutenant a year later before being posted to the Moi Air Base where he trained as a pilot.

The CDF previously held senior positions of authority in the service, including Commanding Officer Laikipia Air Base Tactical Flight Wing (2007), as well as Base Commander Laikipa Air Base (2008-2014).

He was promoted to Brigadier on April 10, 2012, and subsequently appointed the Deputy Air Force Commander; on July 13, 2018, he was promoted to Major General and appointed Commander of the Kenya Air Force.

Ogolla was then on July 23, 2021 promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces.

He held this position until April 28, 2023 when President Ruto promoted him to the rank of General and appointed Chief of the Defence Forces.

The military science graduate from École Militaire de Paris and the National Defence College of Kenya also held a diploma in International Studies and Military Science from Egerton University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Armed Conflict, and Peace Studies, and a Masters of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi.

He has previously received presidential awards such as Moran of the Golden Heart (MGH), Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS), and taken home a Head of State Commendation.