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Kenya on Saturday held the official funeral ceremony at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang'ata, Nairobi for General Francis Ogolla, Kenya's Chief of Defence Forces who died in a plane crash on Thursday.

Ogolla was killed when his helicopter went down shortly after takeoff in a remote forested area of northwestern Kenya on Thursday.

Ogolla, a trained fighter pilot, had been promoted to the defence chief role a year ago and was about to mark 40 years of military service.

He had been visiting troops deployed in a security operation in the North Rift region, which is plagued by violence caused by armed bandits and cattle rustlers.

Ogolla's daughter Lorna Ogolla said in a poignant post on LinkedIn that her father died "doing what he did best for the better part of the last 40 years -- trying to keep Kenya safe".

Nine others who died in the same crash have been identified: Brig Swale Saidi, Col Duncan Keittany, Lt Col David Sawe, Maj George Benson Magondu, Capt Sora Mohamed, Capt Hillary Litali, Snr Sgt John Kinyua Mureithi, Sgt Cliphonce Omondi, and Sgt Rose Nyawira.

The bodies of the victims, raped in Kenyan flags, were returned to a military base in Nairobi on an Air Force plane late Thursday.

One of the officers, Brigadier Swale Saidi, was buried in the Indian Ocean town of Kilifi on Friday and other funerals are expected in the coming days.

The journey to late General Francis Ogolla’s final resting place begins today in Nairobi where a memorial service mass is being conducted.

Kenyan leader President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua are among dignitaries at the event also attended by the bereaved family.

A report published by The Star indicates that Military personnel will meticulously carry out traditions and protocols, honoring him with precision and reverence.

The ceremony will also include military honors which have been organized in his honor as per the Defence Forces Standing Instructions No. 5 of 2020 which stipulates individuals to be accorded and how it should be conducted.

The service which started at 1 pm will be a moment of reflection and remembrance for Ogolla's life and contributions to the nation.

The casket bearing the remains of the late Ogolla was carried into the stadium using the same military gun carrier escorted by military police outriders and officers only of the highest rank equal to his will stand as the pallbearers.

Burial will take place on Saturday in a military tribute to the former Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces (CDF), General Francis Omondi Ogolla, in the presence of President William Ruto, the defence ministry announced.

A 19-gun salute the presentation of military colors, a solemn and symbolic gesture, will underscore Ogolla's unwavering commitment to duty and country.

Following the ceremony, the military honors ceremony will be a fitting tribute to his distinguished service to the nation, the newspaper reported.

Kenya began three days of mourning on Friday after its defence chief and nine other senior officers were killed in a helicopter crash, the latest military accident involving a high-profile figure.

Ogolla, a married father of two, joined the KDF in April 1984, rising through the ranks to command the Kenyan Air Force in 2018, a post he held for three years before becoming vice chief of the defence forces in 2021 and then chief in April 2023.