In his interaction with people, General Francis Ogolla demeanour was that of a social person, a human first who did not let the rigidities of power and military mannerism isolate him from the people.
Siaya Governor James Orengo once attended a burial with him in his Alego Usonga village and said that though he remained generally guarded on what he said, he was in free spirit, willing to interact with the public without his aides keeping the people at bay.
Ogolla was among the 10 who perished in a helicopter crash in Elgeyo Marakwet on Thursday afternoon. The copter had taken off but crash-landed shortly after before busting into flames. The bodies of the soldiers were flown to Nairobi Thursday evening.
He was buried at his Mor home in Alego Usonga, Siaya county on Sunday, with the family saying it was as per his wishes. He is survived by his wife Aileen, two daughters and a grandson.
Orengo told the Star that when he invited Ogolla to address the gathering, he was cordial, warm and engaging to the receptive audience.
He would also interact with them freely, downing his guard and feeling at home among the residents.
“He was a warm man with polished personality. As his governor, I invited him to speak to the mourners in that funeral, even though he wanted just to attend and not speak. When he rose, he was of free spirit, interacting with the public without any encumbrances,” the governor told the Star.
Orengo also said he had interacted with Ogolla countless times, even before he rose to the position of military honour, and they struck warm personal relationship that lasted years.
“I interacted with him even when he was the commander of Kenya Airforce and I met him severally at Moi Airbase over various issues. He was generally a good man, a trustable person, a man of honour and a gentleman per excellence.”
“He was a human first before a soldier and a top commander, interacting with everyone without having to throw around his title and the privileges in your face,” he said.
He said his interaction with the general had been in formal engagement, like in offices and occasions of national celebrations, and also in casual and more social settings.
And in all the instances, Ogolla was always clear-eyed about the issues, gave his word and fulfilled his promises and was easy to interact with, he said.
The Siaya governor said his county is even more saddened because the fallen general had not served out his full term and that he had made history as the very first military chief from the larger western Kenya region.
A man of history, the general also became the first KDF boss to die in office.
“It is a sad turn of events and most unfortunate for his family, Siaya county and the nation of Kenya at large. This should not have happened,” he said.
Orenge joined other leaders in paying tribute to the late defence chief, saying his death has robbed the country of a dedicated and friendly officer whose only pre-occupation was enhancing capacity of the military to better deliver in its mandate of protecting the sovereignty of Kenya.
“He served with distinction, commitment and subservience to duty, discipline and honour. The country is poorer for his death because he had a sterling vision for the military and the defence architecture of the country, which has now been cut short,” he said.
In the backdrop of the pain of his sudden death, Orengo said, there is need for urgent, credible and thorough probe to assuage any anxiety and speculation surrounding the Thursday air accident.
He said the speculation about foul play in Ogolla’s death is being fuelled by the political controversy that surrounded his ascension to the high office.
“We all know the circumstances of his rising to the seat of CDF and there is need to thoroughly investigate and clear the air on the accident. Movement of a CDF is often meticulously planned, with every I and t in the logistical and security arrangement dotted and crossed. There is need to clear the air,” the governor said.
“I convey my heartfelt condolences to this grieving family and I only pray that peace and fortitude carry them through this season.”
President William Ruto, while announcing the death of Ogolla and his team, also said the Kenya Air Force has constituted and dispatched an air investigation team, to establish the cause of the air crash that killed the CDF and nine others.
The President has announced a 3-day national mourning period to honour the fallen general.
Ruto had said the death of Ogolla is painful to him and Kenyans in general.
"This is a moment of great sadness for myself, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, the Kenya Defence Forces fraternity and the nation at large," he said.
"Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals, gallant officers, service men and woman. The demise of Gen Ogolla is a painful loss to me, and certainly, the sorrow we all feel about his passing is shared by all the people of Kenya, and especially the KDF fraternity."
The President described Ogolla's death as the demise of a four-star general who has fallen in the course of duty and service to the country.
"I convey my deepest condolences to all families who are grieving this untimely loss and our mourning nation. May the Almighty Lord rest their souls in peace and grant their families fortitude at this time of deep sorrow. I also wish a quick recovery to the two injured soldiers in this accident."
