William Ruto: Francis Ogolla Was Remorseful Over Bomas Secret Azimio Meeting

• President William Ruto underscored that the late General Francis Ogolla was party to the plot to have his win in the 2022 presidential vote annulled
• Ruto revealed Ogolla confessed to him in a meeting, asking to be forgiven, be dismissed from the service or be charged at the court martial
• Despite the confession, the president explained he settled on Ogolla despite not having been listed among the potential CDF post holders, explaining that he (Ogolla) merited

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi: President William Ruto has revisited his bone of contention with the late General Francis Ogolla who was honoured on Saturday, April 20.

Ruto is on record implicating the deceased Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) in the supposed machinations undertaken by the Azimio La Umoja coalition to overturn the 2022 presidential results.

According to Ruto, Ogolla, who was then serving as the vice CDF, was among the ranking operatives in the administration at the time who walked to the national tallying centre at the Bomas of Kenya to corner then Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati to consider reviewing the final presidential results.

Ruto suggested if Chebukati would have given in, it would have been detrimental to him(Ruto).

What was General Ogolla's confession to Ruto?

The president revealed that the deceased army man confessed to him of having been part of the said plot.

Ruto said that in the recommendations for the new CDF succeeding General Robert Kibochi, Ogolla did not feature.

But having seen his merit, he thought it was wise to have him at the helm of the armed forces.

Even as the thought crossed Ruto's mind, he implied the events at the Bomas of Kenya suppressed his will to entrust Ogolla with the post.

"I asked Ogolla for a meeting, and I had a one-on-one meeting with him. When we concluded the meeting, he told me; I have no defence. I will not try to defend myself. It was wrong, whatever happened. You have three choices, either send me to court martial, or have me retire or forgive me," Ruto said.

Ruto said that on hearing the general, he slept over the idea of appointing Ogolla as the new CDF, this as he (Ruto) referenced his own experience at the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he was charged with crimes against humanity.

"That evening, I went home after that meeting, and I reflected on what Ogolla had told me. In that reflection, I thought of my own story and my own episode of the ICC at the Hague where circumstances had consipired and I was there," said Ruto.

After pondering over the matter, Ruto says he rested on the decision to entrust Ogolla with the position as he had merited and edged over the others recommended.

Ruto shared this during the honours ceremony for the late Ogolla at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on Saturday.

How did Raila defend Ogolla before Ruto?

The president's revelations came moments after Kenya's opposition chief, Raila Odinga, defended Ogolla.

Speaking at the same event, Raila explained that the deceased general's personality, as he knew him personally, would not have led him into such machinations.

"I knew this man very well. I want us to remove the stigma as we lay him to rest. Ogolla would never have contemplated or thought about going to the Bomas of Kenya to force the former IEBC chair to alter the results of the last presidential vote. Rest in peace, our brother and my uncle, General Ogolla," Raila said.

The late General Francis Ogolla's final race

• General Ogolla perished with nine others in a tragic KDF helicopter crash in Elgeyo Marakwet on Thursday, April 18.
• As per his wish, he would be laid to rest on Sunday, April 21, exactly three days into his death.
• Besides being buried within 72 hours after his death, Ogolla also specified that his body be laid to rest wrapped in sheets at the expense of a coffin.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.