Ruto spills details on 'come to Jesus' meeting with General Ogolla after Bomas chaos
President William Ruto has revealed the particulars of a
closed-door meeting he held with the late Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General
Francis Ogolla after assuming the presidency, as he pondered on who to appoint
as the next Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) top honcho.
The meeting came in the aftermath of the chaos witnessed at
the Bomas of Kenya on August 15, 2022 during the tallying of the year's
presidential election results, where General Ogolla alongside other
high-ranking military personnel reportedly attempted to oppose Ruto's victory
and ascension to power.
Speaking on Saturday during the military honours ceremony held
to commemorate Ogolla's passing, Ruto noted that the tête-à-tête he dubbed a
man-to-man "come to Jesus meeting" greatly influenced his decision to
appoint the late General as the country’s CDF.
"All the recommendations and advise that I got on the
next CDF did unfortunately not include General Ogolla, but he was a military
officer with a distinguished career. There was only one problem, the events of
the August 15 at the Bomas of Kenya," said President Ruto.
In order to assess the late General's allegiance for himself,
Ruto invited Ogolla to the meeting where the military man reportedly expressed
remorse for the chaos at Bomas of Kenya.
President Ruto recounted Ogolla's admission: "Mr.
President, I will not try to defend myself. What happened was wrong and you
have three choices: send me to court martial, have me retire, or forgive
me."
After the meeting, Ruto said he reflected on Ogolla's words
drawing parallels to his own experiences and legal battles at the International
Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
"I also reflected on the brief that I had been given when
I came into office as President where I was told to think carefully about who I
would appoint as Interior minister, Director General of NIS, Inspector General of
Police and CDF," said Ruto.
"I made a conscious decision to take a different
trajectory, where professionalism and competency must come before ethnicity,
and I made up my mind that Ogolla deserved to be CDF and it is an appointment I
am proud of."
Want to send us a story? SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp 0743570000 or Submit on Citizen Digital or email wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a Comment