100th birthday celebrations for CDF Ogolla's father still on - Family

The family of the late Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla has insisted that his father’s 100th birthday celebrations initially set for Saturday will still go on as planned.

Family members who spoke to Citizen Digital revealed that General Ogolla was scheduled to travel to the village in Alego Usonga Constituency, Siaya County, on Friday to assist with preparations for the celebrations.

The family had planned to celebrate Mzee Joel Oketch Oyeyo’s 100th birthday on Saturday, followed by the consecration of the St. Thomas Nduru Anglican Church on Sunday.

The trip was however not to be for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) boss as he was killed in a military helicopter crash in Elgeyo Marakwet on Thursday afternoon.

The family has since said that the General will be buried on Sunday in accordance with his will which that outlined that, upon his demise, he be laid to rest within 72 hours.

The burial will be preceded by a memorial service at his local church in Nduru.

General Ogolla’s elder brother Canon Hezekiah Oduor also disclosed that he will be laid to rest without a coffin, as he had wished.

Canon Oduor said the late General envisioned a simple ritual burial akin to Muslim practices, where he will be wrapped in sheets, a decision made to alleviate what he described as unnecessary pressure on the family.