-
The CS went on to reveal that Ogolla shared with him text messages from his bosses and members of the NSAC who asked him to go to Bomas.
-
“He showed me the message that reads “Go and represent me at NSAC because of prior commitments” of the other person who was to go.
Image: PCS
The events of the August 2022 general election at Bomas of Kenya in which late Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogollo featured prominently took centre stage during his funeral on Sunday.
Speaking during the event, Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale laid bare the matter as he sought to defend Ogolla while revealing a discussion he had with him a few months after the incident.
Duale recounted a phone conversation in which Ogolla explained how it had continued to affect him mentally to the extent of losing weight.
“He called me and the family can agree with me, we had a conducive discussion; that he had even lost weight, that this thing was disturbing him,” said Duale.
According to Duale, Ogolla was at Bomas on instructions from his bosses.
He said as a Vice Chief of Defence Forces (VCDF), Ogolla was not one of the members of the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) and there was no way he could have gone on his own.
“So, he did it, General Ogolla went to NSAC and to Bomas,” he posed.
The CS went on to reveal that Ogolla shared with him text messages from his bosses and members of the NSAC asking him to go to Bomas.
“He showed me the message that read “Go and represent me at NSAC because of prior commitments” of the other person who was to go.
He continued;
“When he went to NSAC, the directions General Ogolla was given with other colleagues was to go to Bomas, and since he was a reputable soldier, the General asked and sent a text message to his bosses asking what am I going to do in Bomas?” he said.
“Ogolla was told it has been decided that you go,” he said.
Duale further explained that when Ogolla and his team arrived at Bomas, the then IEBC chair informed them that presidential results would be announced at 3 pm.
It was at this point that the late General sent another message informing his bosses that he needed to return as he had no other business but he was told to stay put, Duale said.
Ogolla was appointed on April 27, 2023, and sworn in on April 28, five days later.
Duale further stated that when President William Ruto convened Ogolla for a one-on-one discussion, he was looking for a new CDF to replace Robert Kibochi whose term had ended.
This also gave him the confidence to hold talks with him (Ogolla).
"I had a discussion with him from 7 pm to 9:30 pm in my house. His security and driver can confirm. When he convinced me that is when he got an opportunity to relay and talk to the president those three messages at the end of the discussion," he said.
Ruto revealed Saturday during the memorial service that Ogolla told him he had no defence and he had options to send him to court-martial, retire him, or forgive him.
The CS also stated that he has directed that no member of NSAC would henceforth delegate their duties to their juniors to prevent further mistakes.
He also told leaders to avoid creating false narratives about Ogolla noting he was honest.
The appointment of Ogolla, Duale said, was merited apart from the fact that the region had for long produced decorated military men but had not been recognised and given the position
In his tribute, he described him as a man of humility and the finest officer who has trained many pilots including the current Air Force commander.
He said he could walk to his office, and vice versa, adding that he asked if he could fast with him for seven days at one point during the holy month of Ramadhan.
He, however, regretted that the death had happened at a time when he had vowed to unveil a plan for the KDF during the pass-out parade on May 15.