GENERAL FRANCIS OGOLLA
General Francis Ogolla Omondi was born on 12 February 1962 in Siaya County to Mzee Joel Ayeyo.
General Ogolla went to Nduru primary school in Alego Usonga upto class six before he joined his brother Canon Oduor in Homabay at Lala primary.
He passed KCPE, proceeded to Kisumu technical school and passed well, then moved to Amukura boys where he did A levels. He started his first work at price water company then to university and then joined forces as a cadet.
General Francis Ogolla Omondi joined the Kenya Defence Forces on 24 April 1984 and was commissioned in May 1985 and deployed to the Kenya Air Forces as a 2nd Lieutenant.
He trained as a fighter pilot with the United States Air Force and as an Instructor pilot at the Kenya Air Force. He also received training in other areas such as imagery intelligence, accident investigation and counter-terrorism.
The four-star general graduated from École Militaire de Paris and the National Defence College of Kenya with a degree in military science.
He 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.
From 1992-1993 He served in the former Yugoslavia as an Observer and Military Information Officer.
1994 to 2004 he served as chairman of the Military Christian Fellowship and as co-chair of the Association of African Air Chiefs between 2018 and 2019.
The Chief Defence Forces held senior positions of authority in the service, including Commanding Officer Laikipia Air Base Tactical Flight Wing in 2007, Base Commander Laikipa Air Base from 2008-2014.
He was also the chief flying instructor at Kenya Air Force flying training school, and operations Desk Officer at Kenya Air Force Headquarters .
He was promoted to Brigadier on April 10, 2012, and subsequently appointed the Deputy Air Force Commander; on July, 2018, he was promoted to Major General and appointed Commander of the Kenya Air Force.
General Ogolla was on July 23, 2021 promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed the Vice Chief of the Defense Forces.
On April 2023, he was promoted to a full General and appointed as the new Chief of Defence Forces by President William Ruto. He served as the principal military adviser to the president and the cabinet.
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.
The late General is survived by his wife, Aileen Ogolla and their two children and a grand son