Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has directed all its member clubs to observe a moment of silence before matches in honour of the fallen Chief of Defence Forces, General Francis Ogolla, and nine other KDF Soldiers.General Ogolla and nine other military personnel lost their lives on Thursday afternoon when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in Kaben, Marakwet, bursting into flames upon impact. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8046084##Those who perished were Brigadier Swaleh Said, Colonel Dancan Keitany, Lieutenant Col. David Sawe, Major George Benson Magondu, Capt. Sora Mohammed, Capt. Hillary Litali, Snr Sgt John Kinyua Mureithi, Sgt. Cliffonce Omondi, and Sgt. Rose Nyawira. President William Ruto has since announced three days of mourning, during which all flags will fly at half-mast in honour of the distinguished deceased members of the Kenya Defence Forces.Football Kenya Federation has moved to show solidarity with the rest of the nation by announcing that for the next ten days, a moment of silence will be observed before games in honour of the departed servicemen.“It is with profound sorrow that the nation received the news of the tragic helicopter crash in Elgeyo Marakwet County, resulting in the loss of General Francis Ogolla, Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces, and nine other military personnel. Their untimely demise is a profound loss not only to the military fraternity but to the entire nation,” read part of the letter from FKF CEO Barry Otieno to members. Generals never die: CS Ababu Namwamba leads sports community in mourning departed KDF officers“The men and women of our armed forces have consistently displayed unwavering commitment and sacrifice in ensuring the security and stability of our beloved nation. Their contributions extend beyond the boundaries of their duties, often extending to safeguarding events and gatherings, including our football matches. In light of this unfortunate event and recognition of the invaluable service rendered by General Francis Ogolla and the other fallen soldiers, we, the Football Kenya Federation, wish to honour their memory and express our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and colleagues,” continued his letter.He went on to urge the members to stick together during the ten-day remembrance period. “Therefore, we kindly request all FKF members to observe a minute of silence before the commencement of all FKF matches, starting from today, April 19, 2024, to April 29, 2024, as a mark of respect and remembrance for the fallen soldiers. Let us stand together in solidarity and pay tribute to these brave individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good of our country.”Stage set for FKF Women’s Cup quarterfinals
