President William Ruto has recalled how the late Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla gave him three options in the events that followed the 2022 presidential elections.
Speaking at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang’ata, Nairobi during military honours and memorial service for Ogolla, Ruto revealed that he had one-on-one meeting with Ogolla over the poll dispute.
“I asked Ogolla for a meeting. And I had one-on-one, man-to-man, come-to-Jesus meeting with General Ogolla,” Ruto said.
The President revealed that after the meeting, Ogolla told him he had no defence over what had happened.
“He said Mr President, I have no defence. I will not try and defend myself. It was wrong and you have three choices,” he said
Ruto said Ogolla told him he has the option of sending him to a court marshall, have him retired or forgive him.
“That evening, I went home and reflected on what Ogolla had told me. In the reflection, I through of my own story and my own episode at the ICC at The Hague where circumstances conspired and I was there,” he stated.
Ruto said that he had been advised not to reward General Ogolla with the appointment over claims that he was among the team that attempted to overturn his presidential victory in August 2022.
Ruto said he ignored calls from his inner circle not to reward Ogolla but remained steadfast with his resolve to appoint him owing to his experience in security matters.
President Ruto appointed General Ogolla to the position on April 28, 2023, replacing General Robert Kariuki Kibochi whose tenure had come to an end
