Homa Bay
Friday 19th April 2024
KNA by Davis Langat
A sombre mood engulfed Lala village in Arujo location, Homa Bay county following news of the demise of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla.
The decorated military Chief completed his primary education in Lala Primary School where he sat for Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) in 1976.
According to the Chief of Arujo Location Bob Lang’o, the fallen Chief of Defence Forces helped initiate a water project serving more than 10,000 local residents.
“Although General Ogolla was a resident of Alego Usonga Sub-county in Siaya County, he never forgot Lala Primary school and Lala community,” Chief Lang’o said.
He said soon after being sworn in as the Chief of Defence Forces in April last year, Gen Ogolla began implementing the water project at Lala primary school to help both the school and the local community.
In August 2023, he sent a team of hydrologists to drill water at Lala Secondary School which is adjacent to the Primary School.
The project was implemented speedily with solar panels, tanks and pipes installed promptly to supply residents with clean water for their livestock and domestic use.
“The project was initially designed for Lala primary school but it was moved to the secondary section because the water table was higher in that location,” Lang’o said.
The administrator said the project is currently being utilised by Lala primary school, Lala Secondary school and the local community.
He said the final phase of the project was distribution to people’s homes and was on course.
Lang’o said Ogolla died while he was still planning to visit the school to launch the water project officially.
“We were in communication with Gen Ogolla and he was planning to come to Lala and launch the water project officially,” Lang’o said.
He remembered Ogolla as a man who had the interest of his people and his roots at heart.
“Ogolla demonstrated the character traits of a man who could not forget people who helped him when he was in need right from childhood,” Lang’o added.
He sent a message of condolences to Ogolla’s family praying for fortitude to endure the difficult moments.
Jane Aoko, a resident said Gen Ogolla had helped them resolve a serious water shortage which affected them before the project.
“I have never seen Gen Ogolla but this water project creates his image in my mind. We were suffering from a serious water shortage but he rescued us. Death has deprived us of a person we were looking forward to express our gratitude to,” Aoko said.
Javan Auko, another resident described Ogolla as an icon to be emulated by everybody in the society.
“Gen Ogolla was a selfless person and I encourage our people who are successful in life to remember their roots,” Auko said.
Courtesy; KNA