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The Day Military Chief Francis Ogolla Publicly Apologised to Rachel Ruto(Video)
General Francis Ogolla, the former Chief of Defence Forces of Kenya, is remembered as the military leader with the briefest tenure, having taken office in April 2023.
Despite his brief tenure, General Ogolla, who passed away in a helicopter accident on Thursday, encountered a fair amount of controversies during his time in office.
General Ogolla once had to offer a public apology to First Lady Rachel Ruto after he breached protocol by not acknowledging Mama Rachel before delivering a speech at an event that was also attended by President William Ruto.
“I want to make an apology Your Excellency. When I was going through the salutations I discovered I did not recognize Her Excellency the First Lady. And I apologize Your Excellency (as he saluted her)…” Gen Ogolla said during the 2023 KDF Day.
During that period, General Ogolla held the position of Deputy Chief of Defense Forces with the rank of Lieutenant General.
Before that, in August 2022, General Ogolla was drawn into the intense situation surrounding the Presidential Election between Dr. Ruto and his opponent Raila Odinga.
President Ruto mentioned that he selected General Ogolla as the Chief of Defence Forces despite the recommendations of many close advisors.
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While fielding questions from journalists on live TV in May 2023, President Ruto said he exercised magnanimity of leadership to appoint “Mr Ogolla, who had walked into Bomas of Kenya to try and overthrow my win” after the August 9, 2022 General Election.
He said the popular advice he got from his loyalists was not to reward Gen Ogolla “owing to his (claimed) attempted power grab against the will of the people, “but I insisted on him because his experience justified his being given the job”.
The President was alluding to statements made by former IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati, who alleged that on August 15, 2022, Vice CDF Ogolla tried to coerce him into declaring Mr. Odinga as the winner or forcing a rerun.
Azimio la Umoja challenged the official presidential vote count, alleging that the IEBC mishandled the election due to significant electoral misconduct and tallying errors.
The case was brought before the Supreme Court of Kenya, but the petition was ultimately dismissed, confirming President Ruto’s victory.
The Day Military Chief Francis Ogolla Publicly Apologised to Rachel Ruto(Video)