Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla's son, Joel Omondi, has announced that his father's body currently lying in a casket will be wrapped in sheets before being laid to the ground.
Addressing mourners at the Ulinzi Sports Complex Stadium in Lang'ata on Saturday, April 20, 2024, the general's son, affirmed that the move comes as part of the family's effort to grant his wishes as noted in his will.
While likening the burial to that of Jesus Christ, Joel noted that the process will make him return to dust as quickly as possible. He also explained that Ogolla's body is currently lying in a cheap casket because his spirit is no longer existent and that he preferred a decent send-off.
"Mzee lying over here the casket he is lying in is a very simple mbao ambayo hata haijapigwa randa, it is very rough I've just been told it actually cost Ksh6,800 hii mambo mingi ya casket ati mtu mkubwa Ksh500K...Ksh1 million, his essence of spirit is no longer with us, this is a body that he served our country with and now it's finished," he said.
"Let me address rumours that I have been seeing on social media of guys asking if he was muslim, your excellency as you know Jesus himself how he was buried, he was buried in a sheet and put in a tomb right now mzee is wearing the uniform he donned for the function but tomorrow we will be wrapping him in the sheets, we will extract him from the casket and lay him in the ground so that he can return to dust as quickly as possible," he said.
Ogolla who tragically lost his life on Thursday, April 18, 2024, will be laid to rest tomorrow per his wishes.
Speaking to the press in the evening, President William Ruto noted that the military chopper crashed at the Sindar area in Elgeyo Marakwet County at around 2:20 pm.
The Head of State subsequently underscored that the ill-fated chopper crash carrying 11 other military officials claimed the lives of nine other military personnel, leaving two survivors.
The deceased were; Brigadier Swale Saidi, Colonel Duncan Keittany, Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe, Major George Benson Magondu (Pilot), Captain Sora Mohamed, Captain Hillary Litali, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi, Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi, and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.
"Today, at 2:20 pm, our nation suffered a tragic air accident in the Sindar area, Keben location, Tot division, in Elgeyo Marakwet County. I am deeply saddened to announce the passing on of General Francis Omondi Ogolla, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces," Ruto said.
