Francis Ogolla Was Set To Open Church He Helped Build In His Siaya Home On Sunday

• General Francis Ogolla, Kenya's Chief of Defence Forces, died alongside nine other military officers in a helicopter crash at the border of West Poot and Marakwet East
• Sources indicate that General Francis Ogolla will be buried at his Siaya home on Sunday, April 21
• A cleric in the Kenya Defence Forces said that Ogolla was set to grace a celebration of a church he helped build in his rural home

Michael Ollinga is a journalist at TUKO.co.ke with over 10 years of experience covering courts and crimes, special reports, and current affairs in Kenya.

Kenya Defence Forces Chief Francis Ogolla had a busy weekend ahead of him before a deadly helicopter crash turned everything upside down.

What Francis Ogolla planned for the weekend

Ogolla died alongside nine other Kenya Defence Forces officers after the helicopter they were travelling in crashed at the border of West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.

Ogolla will be buried in Ng'iya, Alego Usonga home on Sunday, April 21.

Sunday also marks the end of the three-day national mourning period.

In an exclusive conversation with TUKO.co.ke, a soldier and cleric at Kenya Defence Forces said that Ogolla was set to grace a church he had helped build in his rural home.

General Francis Ogolla's love for the church

"The news of his death does not sound real at all. General Ogolla was so supportive of the church and even supported the revival of Military Christian Fellowship of Kenya activities after taking over as the CDF," said the officer who sought anonymity.

TUKO.co.ke understands that Ogolla served as the Military Christian Fellowship of Kenya from 1994 to 2004.

The KDF officer described Ogolla as a humble leader who made everyone feel comfortable, even in spaces where they deemed themselves inferior.

"His Christian values were out there for everyone to see. He was planning to preside over the opening of a church he helped build in his home this Sunday, and all the clerics in the forces had come together to support him and equip it with a pulpit.

"The clerics across the forces loved him, and we took it upon ourselves to support his church project when we found out he was doing something spiritual for his community. After hearing the news of his death I just cried because it was unbearable," said the cleric.

Other credible forces confirmed that Anglican Church of Kenya clerics were set to accompany Ogolla in his home and local church celebrations.

Does Kenya Defence Forces have a Christian Fellowship?

On November 21, 2023, Ogolla opened the year's Military Christian Fellowship of Kenya (MCFK) at the Kenya School of Government. It was themed "Building Spiritual Synergy for a Mission-Ready Force."

MCFK is a member of the Association of Military Christian Fellowship (AMCF), an international umbrella organisation consolidating Christian outreaches from several countries to spread God's word to service personnel and their families through fellowship, witnessing, and prayer.

During the event, he reminded delegates to serve diligently and with integrity.

Francis Ogolla's burial plans

• Sources indicate that Kenya Defence Forces Chief Francis Ogolla will be buried in his Siaya home on Sunday, April 21
• President William Ruto had declared three days of national mourning in honour of Francis Ogolla and the nine other fallen soldiers.
• General Francis Ogolla's body and those of the nine other casualties were flown to Nairobi on Thursday, April 18

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.