PRESIDENT WILLIAM Ruto made the revelation during Memorial service at Ulinzi Sport Center. He disclosed details of closed-door meeting with former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla following 2022 general elections, as he though of who to appoint on top military position.
The meeting came in the aftermath of the chaos witnessed at the Bomas of Kenya on August 15, 2022 during the tallying of the year’s presidential election results, where General Ogolla alongside other high-ranking military personnel reportedly attempted to oppose Ruto’s victory and ascension to power.
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Speaking on Saturday during the military honours ceremony held to commemorate Ogolla’s passing, Ruto noted that the tête-à-tête he dubbed a man-to-man “come to Jesus meeting” greatly influenced his decision to appoint the late General as the country’s CDF.
“All the recommendations and advise that I got on the next CDF did unfortunately not include General Ogolla, but he was a military officer with a distinguished career. There was only one problem, the events of the August 15 at the Bomas of Kenya,” said President Ruto.
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In order to assess the late General’s allegiance for himself, Ruto invited Ogolla to the meeting where the military man reportedly expressed remorse for the chaos at Bomas of Kenya.
President Ruto recounted Ogolla’s admission: “Mr. President, I will not try to defend myself. What happened was wrong and you have three choices: send me to court martial, have me retire, or forgive me.”
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After the meeting, Ruto said he reflected on Ogolla’s words drawing parallels to his own experiences and legal battles at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
“I also reflected on the brief that I had been given when I came into office as President where I was told to think carefully about who I would appoint as Interior minister, Director General of NIS, Inspector General of Police and CDF,” said Ruto.
“I made a conscious decision to take a different trajectory, where professionalism and competency must come before ethnicity, and I made up my mind that Ogolla deserved to be CDF and it is an appointment I am proud of.”
