The occasions of the August 2022 basic election at Bomas of Kenya through which late Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogollo featured prominently took centre stage throughout his funeral on Sunday.
Speaking through the occasion, Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale laid naked the matter as he sought to defend Ogolla whereas revealing a dialogue he had with him a number of months after the incident.
Duale recounted a telephone dialog through which Ogolla defined the way it had continued to have an effect on him mentally to the extent of losing a few pounds.
“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,” mentioned Duale.
According to Duale, Ogolla was at Bomas on directions from his bosses.
He mentioned as a Vice Chief of Defence Forces (VCDF), Ogolla was not one of many members of the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) and there was no manner he may have gone on his personal.
“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 textual content 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 opposite one 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 mentioned.
“Ogolla was told it has been decided that you go,” he mentioned.
Duale additional defined that when Ogolla and his staff arrived at Bomas, the then IEBC chair knowledgeable them that presidential outcomes could be introduced at 3 pm.
It was at this level that the late General despatched one other message informing his bosses that he wanted to return as he had no different enterprise however he was informed to keep put, Duale mentioned.
Ogolla was appointed on April 27, 2023, and sworn in on April 28, 5 days later.
Duale additional said that when President William Ruto convened Ogolla for a one-on-one dialogue, he was searching for a brand new CDF to exchange Robert Kibochi whose time period had ended.
This additionally gave him the arrogance to maintain 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 mentioned.
Ruto revealed Saturday through the memorial service that Ogolla informed him he had no defence and he had choices to ship him to court-martial, retire him, or forgive him.
The CS additionally said that he has directed that no member of NSAC would henceforth delegate their duties to their juniors to forestall additional errors.
He additionally informed leaders to keep away from creating false narratives about Ogolla noting he was trustworthy.
The appointment of Ogolla, Duale mentioned, was merited aside from the truth that the area had for lengthy produced adorned navy males however had not been recognised and given the place
In his tribute, he described him as a person of humility and the best officer who has skilled many pilots together with the present Air Force commander.
He mentioned he may stroll to his workplace, and vice versa, including that he requested if he may quick with him for seven days at one level through the holy month of Ramadhan.
He, nevertheless, regretted that the loss of life had occurred at a time when he had vowed to unveil a plan for the KDF through the pass-out parade on May 15.
