The late Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla will be laid to rest without a coffin in accordance with his will and wishes, his elder brother Canon Hezekiah Oduor has disclosed.
Canon Oduor revealed that the Sunday burial will be very simple, which is why the late General wished to be interred within 72 hours of his passing.
He further shared that his brother had even shown him the exact spot for his burial near his house in Mor village, Siaya County.
The late General Ogolla envisioned a simple ritual burial akin to Muslim practices, where he will be wrapped in sheets, a decision made to alleviate what he described as unnecessary pressure on the family.
Despite the simplicity of the burial, other Luo rituals will be observed.
Canon Oduor extended an invitation to those who wish to mourn with them to join either in spirit or physically, assuring that there is enough food for all types of visitors.
The late General’s sister, Peris Onyango, revealed that her brother was very prepared for death.
She shared that anytime he visited, he would describe to her how his burial should look like, despite her attempts to dissuade him from such thoughts.
She added that her brother consistently insisted that death is a reality, especially for soldiers like him who stare death in the face in the line of duty.
“The sudden death has thrown the entire community into a state of disarray as Ogolla was a philanthropist,” said Ms. Onyango.
She described her late brother as very generous and someone who listened to the problems affecting villagers.
“He helped the church and ensured its completion, provided a water borehole, and rewarded the schools he attended,” she said.
“That’s why when the news of his death broke yesterday, people came in numbers to mourn him because he had no boundaries.”