FORMER Prime Minister Raila Odinga has differed sharply with President William Ruto over the involvement of the late Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla in the August 2022 Presidential election debacle.
Raila refuted earlier claims by President Ruto that Ogolla was part of public officers who had attempted to stop the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission from declaring him president.
Speaking during the Military Honour’s Ceremony for the CDF at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Langata, Nairobi, Raila maintained that the late Ogolla would never have taken part in such a scheme.
But Ruto who spoke shortly after, repeated that General Ogolla had personally confessed to have been involved in interfering with the election results at the Bomas of Kenya and had admitted to having done wrong.
Ogalla is said to have been part of State officials who went to Bomas on August 15, 2022 and tried to stop the IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati from declaring the presidential results.
Following the allegations, his appointment as CDF in April last year raised eyebrows and questions both in government and the opposition.
“I knew this man very well. General Ogolla would never have contemplated or thought about going to Bomas of Kenya to force Mr Chebukati to alter the results of last year’s general elections,” Raila said at the tail end of his speech. “We want this to be removed as we lay him to rest tomorrow,”
He added, “Because of the manner in which Ogolla died there are rumours flying allover. We want these rumours to be put to rest and this can only happen if there is thorough investigation o tell us the cause of the death and how the plane came down,”
In an emotional eulogy, President Ruto recalled in details how the Bomas events had influenced his decision to appoint Ogolla as the CDF.
“All the recommendation and all the adsise I got about the next CDF did not include the name of General Ogolla, unfortunately. But he was a military officer with a distinguished career. There was only one problem, the events of 15th August at the Bomas of Kenya,”
I asked General Ogolla for a man-to-man meeting a “come to Jesus” meeting. When we concluded the meeting he told me, ‘Mr President I will not try to defend myself it was wrong’.
Ruto said Ogolla left him with three choices; to send him to court marshal, retire him from military or forgive him.
“That evening I went home and I reflected on what General Ogolla had told me and in that reflection I thought of my own story and my own episode at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague where circumstances had conspired and I was there,” the President said.
“Secondly I reflected on the brief I had been given when I came to office as president. I had been told there are four sensitive positions – the Inspector General of Police, the Interior (Cabinet Secretary), the director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and that of the the CDF and I needed to be careful on who I appoint as they mean a lot and are sensitive,” he added.
“I had even been told, please don’t be shy to appoint members of your community you will be safe. I made up my mind that General Ogolla deserved to be the CDF of the Republic of Kenya. Its an appointment Iam very proud that I made”.
Ruto went on to describe the late Ogolla as a man who stood out among the finest in the public service. He said he was privileged to work with the CDF as he led the KDF.
“General Ogolla was the best that we could get,” the president said. General Ogolla will be buried tomorrow at his home in Ngiya Village, Siaya County.
