PROFILE: Who is Lieutenant General Francis Omondi Ogolla?

NAIROBI,Kenya,July 24 – Lieutenant General Francis Omondi Ogolla was appointed vice Chief of the Defence Forces (VCDF) in changes implemented by the defense council and announced by president Uhuru Kenyatta.

LT. Gen Ogolla Joined the Kenya Air Force on April,24, 1984 and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on May, 6, 1985.

He trained as a fighter pilot with the United States Air Force (USAF) and is also a competent instructor pilot. 

In addition, he has trained in other fields including imagery intelligence, counter terrorism and accident investigation.

LT. Gen  Ogolla is a graduate of ÉcoleMilitaire de Paris and National Defence College of Kenya. He holds Diploma both in International Studies and Military Science from Egerton University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Armed Conflict and Peace Studies (First Class Honors) and Masters of Arts in International Studies from University of Nairobi.

He was promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed Commander Kenya Air Force on July, 15, 2018.

Previously he has held various appointments in Training, Command and Staff including Deputy Commander Kenya Air Force, Base Commander Laikipia Air Base, 

Commanding Officer of Tactical Fighter Wing, Chief Flying Instructor at Kenya Air Force Flying Training School and Operations Desk Officer at Kenya Air Force Headquarters.

He also served in the former Yugoslavia as an Observer and Military Information Officer from 1992 to 1993, as chairman of Military Christian Fellowship from 1994 to 2004 and co-Chair of Association of African Air Chiefs between 2018-2019.

He is married to Aileen, blessed with two children and one grandchild. 

LT. Gen Ogolla is said to be an avid reader and golf enthusiast.

In 2010, he was inducted into the National Defence College Hall of Fame and hailed as a formidable achiever for initiating several major modernization programs aimed at transforming the Kenya Air Force into a modern force that is competitive with other modern air forces all over the world.

In addition,he is said to have transformed the Kenya Air Force through re-organization, posture, modernization programs and welfare systems.

Ogolla will deputize Chief of the Defence Forces, General Robert Kibochi.

Lieutenant General Ogolla replaces Lieutenant General Franklin Mghalu whose term of service has ended after 40 years.

According to the Kenya Defence Forces Act, The Chief of the Defence Forces, the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces and the Service Commanders shall serve for a single term of four years or retire upon the attaining of the mandatory retirement age, whichever comes first.