Lorna Ogolla, the daughter of the late Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla has recounted her father’s pursuit of excellence and inspiration to work.
Lorna narrated that when she was in college, her father went back to the University of Nairobi to learn with her peers, a humbling experience for her.
She noted that she was impressed with how her dad navigated the classes alongside Gen Z students, something she found hard herself.
“He was in the parallel program and based in Laikipia airbase. He had to commute between Nanyuki and Nairobi for classes and exams and those of you who have been to University of Nairobi know it is not easy,” she said.
“Operation Linda Nchi was fully in session, and he had a lot of responsibilities in Laikipia Airbase and across the borders and this man excelled. He got first-class honors with my generation. He was in class with my peers.”
Lorna Ogolla Described Father’s Love for Family
Speaking during the final flight of CDF Ogolla, Lorna described her father as a caring man who was always there for his family.
“He took me to school. Every day he was in the country for all my elementary school. He would show up and go bowling with my son and brother,” she shared.
“He will show up and take me shopping, even at my big age he would show up for me at the airport.”
Lorna further called on fathers to show up for their families because their presence makes a difference.
Also Read: Why General Ogolla’s Widow Will Go for a Fully Paid KDF Holiday
In addition, Lorna also described her father as a person who did not like social media presence, noting that he loved working in silence without any attention.
“He did not like being in the limelight. He appreciated doing his work in silence and not having people talk about it,” Lorna shared.
“My father loved giving 110 percent to everything he did, including reading the Bible cover to cover. He approached his work as if it were for God himself.”
CDF Ogolla Loved French
Lorna further said that in 2005, CDF Ogolla was posted in France, and faced the daunting task of learning French from scratch within a period of six months.
“The man learned French, and he had to pass to a certain level for them to accept him in the best military school in France,” she said.
“He did not do French, but he did not tell his boss he can’t do it. He jumped right into it with full energy and learnt it.
Also Read: 3 Choices Ogolla Gave to Ruto After Bomas Drama
Furthermore, Lorna narrated that CDF Ogolla sneaked out of the memorial Hospital with his wife to go to Allion Francis to take his French Exams so that he doesn’t disappoint the government of Kenya even as a junior officer.
This she said was at a time when the general had swallowed a fishbone which got lodged into his intestines and was hospitalized.
President William Ruto on Thursday, April 18, confirmed the demise of CDF Ogolla alongside 10 other officers of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in a chopper crash.
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