2022 elections: Ruto, Raila Differ Over Bomas Night Visit at Gen Ogolla Memorial
On Saturday, President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga disagreed on whether General Francis Ogolla was involved in a group that attempted to reverse the 2022 presidential election results at Bomas of Kenya.
Mr. Odinga initially criticized the idea, stating that General Ogolla would not have considered taking such action.
“He was a simple man. Because of the way Ogolla died, there are so many rumors flying around that we want a thorough investigation into the way he died to put the rumors to rest,” started Mr. Odinga.
He went on: “General Ogolla never contemplated going to Bomas to tell Mr Wafula Chebukati to overturn the outcomes of the 2022 election. I know him. We want that put to rest so that he can rest in eternal peace.”
After President Ruto took office, he mentioned that during a private meeting, General Ogolla acknowledged acting.
“There was one problem with what happened on the 15th of August in the Bomas of Kenya. I called Gen Ogolla to a meeting and when we concluded the meeting, he told me “I am not going to try to defend myself and you have three choices either … have me resign or forgive me I went home and reflected on what Ogolla had told me.,” he said.
Need to be careful
“I was told you need to be careful about who you appoint in this process. I made a conscious deliberate decision that we were going to make a different trajectory as a country. I made up my mind that General Ogolla deserved to be the CDF. It is an appointment that I’m proud of. He stood on the soldiers in exemplary public service.”
President Ruto and Mr. Odinga were addressing allegations made by former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati. Chebukati claimed that on August 15, 2022, General Ogolla (who was Vice Chief of Defence Forces at the time) attempted to compel him to either announce Azimio La Umoja candidate Raila Odinga as the winner or hold a re-run election.
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Mr. Chebukati claimed that General Ogolla was joined by former Jubilee secretary-general Raphael Tuju, former head of public service Joseph Kinyua, former Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, former Principal Administrative Secretary in the Office of the President Kennedy Kihara, and former Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto.
Later, after Robert Kibochi retired in April 2023, President Ruto promoted Ogolla to the rank of general and made him the Chief of the Defense Forces.
The President stated that he appointed Ogolla despite ignoring the recommendations of his close advisors who had suggested he should retire him.
He emphasized that General Ogolla was the most qualified person for the position, a point he reiterated at the memorial service on Saturday.
“I looked at this man’s curriculum vitae and decided, against the wish of many, that he was the most suitable,” Dr Ruto said.
2022 elections: Ruto, Raila Differ Over Bomas Night Visit at Gen Ogolla Memorial