Francis Ogolla: President William Ruto Surprised Daughter Charlene Found Her Way To Burial

• President William Ruto has disclosed that he was surprised to see his daughter Charlene at General Ogolla’s burial ceremony
• Ruto noted that Charlene had requested to attend, but he dissuaded her against it, only to meet her at the venue
• "As fate would have it, she found her way here, and before I could notice, she was on the microphone," he said, sending the audience into laughter

President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, attended the burial of the late Chief of Defence Forces, Francis Ogolla, against her father's orders.

While making his speech, the president disclosed that Charlene called and requested to attend the burial, a request he declined.

Charlene Ruto sneaked into Francis Ogolla's burial

However, he was shocked when he got to the venue and discovered that she attended and had the opportunity to address the gathering from the podium.

"She told me she wanted to attend General Ogolla’s funeral today and make a speech. I said no, but as fate would have it, she found her way here, and before I could notice, she was on the microphone," the president said.

The first daughter was invited to give a speech by Ogolla's daughter, Lorna Achieng, with whom she is close friends.

Ruto explained that Charlene's insistence on attending underscored the deceased general's profound impact on individuals at all levels of society.

Charlene Ruto's speech at Ogolla's burial

Charlene delivered a moving tribute to the late Ogolla, praising the general’s impact on her life despite having met him only once.

She reflected on his support for the youth and his encouragement for them to achieve their dreams.

“As young people, many listen to us, but few of them support and encourage us to achieve our dreams,” she said.

Charlene’s tribute stood out as a beacon of hope for the youth, a call to uphold the virtues that the fallen military man exemplified throughout his life.

CDF Ogolla embodied exemplary values

The funeral, attended by the president, top politicians, numerous dignitaries, family members, and citizens, became a platform to reflect on the values the CDF championed.

One of the values was his undying love for God, embodied in how he constantly carried his Bible everywhere he went.

His commitment to the church was evident in the fact that he contributed towards the construction and resourcing of the sanctuary,

CDF Ogolla was also eulogised for his hard work and exemplary work ethic, which he passed on to his children.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke