Francis Ogolla's Rise From Fighter Pilot To Chief Of Defence Forces
Ogolla's new role will see him outrank all respective heads of each service branch and have operational command authority over the service branches.
Marvin Chege 
Francis Omondi Ogolla, who is Kenya's newest Chief of Defence Forces, has had a decorated career that most military officers in Kenya dream of.
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) is the highest-ranking military officer in the Kenya Defence Forces and the principal military adviser to the President of Kenya and the National Security Council.
Ogolla's new role will see him outrank all respective heads of each service branch and have operational command authority over the service branches.
He will lead the meetings and coordinates the efforts of the Service Commander, comprising the CDF, the Commander of the Kenya Army and Kenya Air Force, Kenya Navy and the Commandant of Military Intelligence and will also be accustomed to his new offices in Ulinzi House within the Department of Defense headquarters in Nairobi.
The then Vice Chief of the Defence forces, Lt Francis Omondi Ogolla, before the Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee at Continental House in Nairobi on November 7, 2022, regarding the deployment of the KDF to the DRC. /DAILY NATION
Following the 2010 Constitution, the Chief of the General Staff was replaced with the Chief of the Defence Forces. General Ogolla's appointment followed the Tonje Rules, which were implemented by former Chief of Staff General Daudi Tonje.
This is the establishment of a rotation system that ensures equal opportunities for the three branches of the Kenya Defence Forces: Army, Navy, and Air Force to lead the military. The President was thus obligated to select the next CDF from the Kenya Air Force, as General Kibochi, the outgoing CDF, was from the Army and succeeded General Mwathethe from the Navy.
This rotation system allows for a fair and balanced approach to leadership within the Kenyan military. But who is General Ogolla in a nutshell?
General Francis Ogolla Profile
He joined the military on April 24, 1984, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on May 6, 1985. He attended the ÉcoleMilitaire de Paris, the same military training College as Napoleon Bonaparte a famous French Emperor, military commander and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution.
Napoleon Bonaparte was trained in the academy in 1784 an academy for trainee officers from noble families without strong financial backgrounds.
Ogolla equally holds a 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 a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi.
He was posted to the Kenya Air Force where he began his military career as a fighter pilot as well as trained as an instructor pilot with United States Airforce (USAF). Ogolla also received training in other areas, such as imagery intelligence, counter-terrorism, and accident investigation.
His dedication to continuous learning and professional development has been a hallmark of his distinguished career. In 2018, he was appointed the Commander of the Kenya Air Force for three years before rising to the rank of Vice Chief of Defence Forces.
He also held other ranks including Training, Command and Staff including Deputy Commander at Kenya Air Force, Base Commander at 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.
A fleet of Kenya Air Force jets. /FILE
Outside Military Life
He has been instrumental in developing and implementing various training programs and operational strategies that have significantly enhanced the effectiveness of the Kenya Air Force and the Kenya Defence Forces as a whole.
Gen Ogolla's military career spans almost 40 years, during which he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to duty, professionalism, and personal development. He is widely respected by his peers and subordinates for his exceptional leadership and tactical acumen.
His many achievements and accolades serve as an inspiration to aspiring military personnel and a testament to the importance of continuous learning and self-improvement.
Outside of military work, General Ogolla has also been active in various organizations. He served as the Chairman of the Military Christian Fellowship from 1994 to 2004 and co-Chair of the Association of African Air Chiefs between 2018 and 2019.
In his personal life, he is a golfer and enjoys reading. He is married to Aileen and has two children.
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