Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has sought to dismiss the popular belief that the late General Francis Ogolla wanted to overturn 2022 presidential election.
Speaking during Ogolla’s memorial at the Ulinzi Sports grounds, Mr. Odinga said their was a need to out the matter to rest ahead of the general’s burial tomorrow.
“As we lay Ogolla to rest, I want us to remove the stigma your Excellency because I knew this man very well. Ogolla would never have contemplated or thought about going to Bomas of Kenya to force Mr. Chebukati to alter results of the last elections. We want this to be removed as we lay him to rest.” Odinga said.
Coffin barring General Ogolla’s body lay at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Raila has also called for investigations into chopper crash that ended the life of CDF Ogolla; says rumours are all over. The opposition leader further wants probe into the recent incidents of military plane crashes.
“We want rumours surrounding the death of General Francis Ogolla put to rest through investigations to tell us how the chopper crashed. It is also time to re-look the military equipment.” He said.
Ruto differs
Later President Ruto said Gen Ogolla admitted to doing so at a private meeting after he was sworn in.
“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.
I was told 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 referring to claims by former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati that on August 15, 2022, Gen Ogolla (then serving as Vice Chief of Defence Forces) tried to force him to declare Azimio La Umoja candidate Raila Odinga the winner or force a re-run.
Mr Chebukati alleged that Gen Ogolla was accompanied by then Jubilee secretary-general Raphael Tuju, then head of public service Joseph Kinyua, then Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, then Principal Administrative Secretary in the Office of President Kennedy Kihara and then Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto.
Later, President Ruto elevated Ogolla to a general and appointed him the CDF after the retirement of Robert Kibochi in April 2023.
The President has insisted that he made the appointment after disregarding the advice of people in his inner circle who had wanted him to retire Ogolla.
He insisted that Gen Ogolla was best suited for the job, something that he repeated at the Saturday memorial service.
“I looked at this man’s curriculum vitae and decided, against the wish of many, that he was the most suitable,” Dr Ruto said.
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