Francis Ogolla's Son Says His Father's Coffin Cost KSh 6800: "It's Very Simple And Rough"

• The late Francis Ogolla stipulated in his precursor will that his remains be interred without a coffin, instead wrapped in sheets
• But during the deceased's military honours ceremony at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, his remains were borne in a simple casket
• Ogolla's son Joel Rabuku revealed the makeshift casket cost them KSh 6,800 and that it would be disposed of after the body was extracted from it

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi: The casket bearing the remains of the late General Francis Ogolla cost the bereaved family KSh 6,800.

His son, Joel Rabuku, revealed while addressing mourners during the military honours ceremony held at Nairobi's Ulinzi Sports Complex in honour of his deceased father.

Inside the late Ogolla's simple coffin

According to Joel, the casket, draped in the national flag and on which lay the fallen general's boots, was for temporary use as it would be disposed of and the body interred while wrapped in sheets.

He stated that his father abhorred unnecessary complexities in his send-off, going for the modest of ways of interment.

"Your Excellency (President William Ruto), yesterday I gave you a slight brief on what Mzee would have wanted. Mzee is lying over here; the casket is very simple, rough wood. I'm told it cost only KSh 6,800. He didn't want complexities that would include an expensive coffin. His essence and spirit are no longer with us; it is now finished," said Rabuku.

Joel further shared that it was his father's wish to "be in contact with the dust as soon as possible."

He said Ogolla was dressed in his ceremonial uniform, which would also be removed before the burial.

Why Francis Ogolla won't be buried in coffin

TUKO.co.ke had earlier reported that the fallen CDF shunned the use of a coffin in his final journey.

Led by Canon Hezekiah Oduor, Ogolla's elder brother, the family said he wished to be wrapped in a sheet(s) the way Muslims bury their kin.

Besides the foregoing, Ogolla also wished that he be laid to rest within 72 hours of his demise.

This, they said, was the deceased's will to prevent costs that the family would bear as they prepared his send-off.

As such, his burial was set to be on Sunday, April 21.

Even as they observe the contents of the will, the family explained that the Luo rituals would be observed as well.

The family extended their invitation to all who would like to pay their last respects to the deceased army man, assuring that food and other refreshments would be in plenty.

Speaking at Ogolla's home in Nairobi, President William Ruto stated that the government would cooperate with the family and positively respond to their kin's wishes.

3-day national mourning

While announcing the fatalities of the helicopter crash, the president proclaimed that the nation would observe a period of three days of mourning commencing Friday, April 19, in honour of the deceased CDF.

During the national mourning, the Kenyan, KDF, and Eastern African Community (EAC) flags will be hoisted at half-mast, both in the country and at the Kenyan missions abroad.

Ogolla was onboard a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) plane that crashed in Keben on the border of the Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot counties.

In his company were, among others, nine other ranking military officials who also died in the crash; two occupants survived.

The officials who died alongside Ogolla are Brigadier Swale Saidi, Colonel Duncan Keittany, Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe, Major George Benson Magondu, Captain Sora Mohamed, Captain Hillary Litali, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi, Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi, and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.

The ill-fated Kenya Air Force Huey Helicopter was ferrying its occupants to the bandit-stricken north rift region on a working visit.

They were visiting troops deployed in the region under Operation Maliza Uhalifu, besides their inspection of the renovation works in a host of schools there.

General Francis Ogolla's final journey

• Francis Ogolla died in a chopper crash in Elgeyo Marakwet on Thursday, April 18, while in the company of nine junior but ranking military officials.
• Their bodies were airlifted to Nairobi's Embakasi Garrison, where an interdenominational prayer was held.
• Meanwhile, the Kenya Air Force dispatched a team of specialised investigators to probe and establish the cause of the crash.

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