Naema Celestine 
Francis Omondi Ogolla was born in February 12th 1962, Ogolla joined Kenya Defence Forces in the year 1984 serving as the 2nd lieutenant in the Kenyan air force, Ogolla got trained as a fighter pilot with the United States Air force in the year 2018.
Ogolla studied and graduated from the Ecole Millitaire de Paris, The National Defence College of Kenya, Egerton University and the University of Nairobi. Ogolla won several awards including the elder of the order of the Golden Heart of Kenya,and the order of the burning spear.
He was married to Aileen and had two children and a grandchild.
He became the commander of the Kenya Air force and later vice chief of defense Forces. Ogolla was then appointed by president William Ruto as the chief of Defense Forces taking over Robert Kariuki Kibochi in April 2023.
The appointment of Ogolla as the chief of Defense Forces raised controversy, just after the chair of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC Wafula Chebukati, accusing him as one of the national security council that tried to influence the 2022 elections results against the winner.
General Francis Ogolla died in a helicopter crash on 18th April 2024, at 2: 20 pm in Elgeyo Marakwet county, the aircraft was a Bell UH – 1H Huey 2 which is operated by the 53 tactical helicopter squadron of the Kenya Air Force.
Ogolla died while in a mission to reopen schools in north rift region following the bandits attacks , president William Ruto has announced a three days of national mourning for his death.
Several leaders and prominent politicians have send their condolence messages including former president Uhuru Kenyatta over Ogolla’s death.
