A video of the late Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla giving a sermon about the reality of life and death was played during his memorial service.
The video was played during General Ogolla’s memorial service on April 20, 2024, at the Ulinzi Sports Complex where President William Ruto led other leaders including Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) high-ranking officers to honour Ogolla.
Leading the memorial service, the chaplain presiding over the ceremony noted that the recorded sermon by the late General would form part of the day’s teaching as a way of honouring him.
“I have structured this message into two. I will share about his Christian life and then finally I will have him (CDF Ogolla) preach to us,” said the chaplain.
In the video seen by The Kenya Times, the late General was speaking about the mortality of the human body during the Life Ministry 50 years celebration.
General Ogolla speaks about life
“In my military life I have come to learn the reality of the human mortality. I have appreciated that life is finite, humans are mortal, and life is short. One morning you are with a healthy colleague, the next morning he is in ashes and gone forever,” said the General.
Also Read: Family Reveals Why CDF Ogolla Will be Buried Within 72 Hours
According to the sermon, General Ogolla noted that seeing colleagues die in war, in accidents or through sicknesses was the reality of human mortality which lives with humans each day.
“Remembrance parades and funeral rites speak to us the eventual end of life and service whether as a serving person and as a veteran,” he added.
The touching sermon further noted that the final emotions humans go through imprints in their minds the reality of the end of life on earth.
“One verse that comes to memory when I get these emotions is John 11: 25 where Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and life. He who believes in me though he dies yet he shall live,” added General Ogolla.
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The late General was honored as a staunch Christian who walked through his military journey as a believer, with the chaplain noting that the late General was at one point asked to be a Canon in recognition of his faith in Christ.
Burial ceremony
Meanwhile, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said that there will be not much of the Luo Community rites of burial practices as dictated by traditions and customs during the sendoff of the late General on April 21, 2024.
Omollo while noting that the military will take over the state burial urged locals to bear the situation.
“General Ogolla is not just the son of Alego Usonga or Siaya County not even just a Luo, he’s a CDF,” he said.
The PS was speaking during the celebration of General Ogolla ‘s father Mzee Joel Oyeyo, who was turning 100 years today at his home in Nduru village.
A church service for the late General will be held at Senator Barack Obama primary school grounds to be presided over by Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit.
General Ogolla met his tragic demise on April 18, 2024, afternoon after the Kenya Air Force (KAF) helicopter he was travelling in alongside eleven other military officers crashed.
