President William Ruto on Friday promoted Lieutenant General Francis Omondi Ogolla to the position of General and appointed him as the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

General Ogolla takes over as CDF from General Robert Kariuki Kibochi, who is leaving the military after 44 years and whose single term of four years as CDF officially came to an end.

Here are 12 interesting things you should know about the new CDF:

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

2. He trained as a fighter pilot with the US Air Force, is a competent instructor pilot and also trained in imagery intelligence, counter terrorism and accident investigation.

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3. He is a graduate of ÉcoleMilitaire de Paris and National Defence College of Kenya.

4. Ogolla holds Diplomas 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.

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

Francis Ogolla when he was being promoted by President Uhuru Kenyatta from Lieutenant General to Air Force Commander. PHOTO/PSCU


6. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed the Vice Chief of the Defense Forces (VCDF) by president Uhuru Kenyatta on July 23, 2021.

7. He has held various positions 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.

8. Ogolla served in the former Yugoslavia as an Observer and Military Information Officer (1992 – 1993).

Francis Ogolla when he was promoted by President Uhuru Kenyatta from Major General to Lieutenant General and appointed the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces (VCDF). PHOTO/PSCU

9. He has also served as the chairman of Military Christian Fellowship from (1994 2004) and co-chairperson of the Association of African Air Chiefs (2018-2019).

10. In 2010, he was inducted into the National Defence College Hall of Fame for instigating major modernization programs to modernize the Kenya Air Force.

PHOTO/PSCU

11. He is married to Aileen Ogolla and together they have two children and a grandchild.

12. Ogolla is well known as an avid golfer and reader.