Video Of Francis Ogolla Preaching About Lessons He's Learnt As Soldier Emerges: "Life Is Short"

• An undated video has emerged of Francis Ogolla preaching about what he has learnt about life and death
• In the video, the late General noted how seeing soldiers die in different instances had made him understand how short life was
• He also noted that because of his faith, he believes he will be in a good place and quotes a Bible verse that he used to encourage himself with

A video of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla talking about what he has learnt about life and death has emerged days after he died in a helicopter crash.

Ogolla and nine others died in a helicopter crash that happened in Elgeyo Marakwet on April 18, shocking many locally and globally.

How soldiers' deaths impacted General Francis Ogolla

However, a video emerged of the general talking about what he had learned as a military man about life and death.

In his words:

"I have come to learn of human mortality. I have appreciated that life is finite. Humans are mortal, and life is short. One morning, you are with a healthy colleague; the next minute, he is ashes and gone forever. Now you see him, now you don't."

Ogolla was speaking at the LIFE Ministry in the undated video, where he also recalled how attending the funerals of his colleagues only made the lessons more profound.

He also spoke about how his faith assured him that he would be in a good place when he exited the earth.

"Seeing colleagues die in war, in accidents or in sicknesses, the reality of human mortality lives with us each day. Their remembrance parades, and the funeral rites imprints in us the eventual end of life and service. Whether as a serving person or as a veteran. These final motions we go through imprint in our minds the reality of the end of life on earth," he added.

How Francis Ogolla prepared for death

While his son may have said their dad had prepared them for the day he would pass, Ogolla's sentiments in the video showed how brave he was in living his life.

He also quoted a Bible verse, John 11:25, that always spoke life into him and assured him that the afterlife would still be better for him.

"This gives me the assurance that life on earth is in God's hands, and when it ends, because of my faith, I know yet, shall I live," he further said.

Watch the video below:

What were Ogolla's achievements

The late General Ogolla once reminisced about joining the military in 1984 and rising to become the country's top soldier.

He joined the military as a junior officer at Laikipia Airbase (LAB), where other personnel in the service prayed together.

TUKO.co.ke established that Ogolla has a Diploma in International Studies and Military from Egerton University.

He advanced his studies, pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Armed Conflict, and Peace Studies, and graduated with First-Class Honours.

What you need to know about Ogolla's burial

• Ogolla will be buried in his Siaya home on Sunday, April 21, according to his request, as stated in his will.
• The late CDF will also not be buried in a coffin, and his family maintained that the Luo traditions will still be observed.
• His final military gun salute will be held on Saturday, April 20, at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, where Ogolla will be accorded a 19-gun salute.

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