Ruto Opens Up On 2022 Bomas Saga & 3 Tough Conditions CDF Francis Ogolla Gave Him

President William Ruto has opened up on the late Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla's involvement in the 2022 general elections in August of that year.

Speaking on Saturday, April 20 during the memorial service of General Ogolla at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang'ata, the Head of State revealed that before the late general's appointment, they held a closed-door meeting to address the events surrounding the general elections.

Ruto was pondering on the choices he got from recommendations on the next CDF, those that excluded Ogolla from the list but because of his decorated career, he was tempted to consider him.

However, the events that surrounded the chaos that unfolded at Bomas of Kenya before the announcement of the 2022 election results prompted the one-on-one meeting between Ruto and the departed general.

President William Ruto in attendance at the memorial service of General Francis Ogolla on April 20, 2024. /KBC DIGITAL

"All the recommendations that I got on the next CDF did not include the name of Gen. Ogolla unfortunately, but he was a military officer with a distinguished career. There was only one problem, the events at Bomas on the 15th of August.

“I asked General Ogolla for a meeting and I had a one-on-one, man-to-man, come to Jesus meeting with him and when we concluded, he told me the following, Mr President, I have no defence, I will not try to defend myself, what happened was wrong," he revealed.

According to Ruto, General Ogolla presented him with three difficult choices, including a plea to forgive him.

"You have three choices, either send me to court-martial, have me retire, or forgive me. That evening I went home after that meeting and I reflected on what General Ogolla had told me," he added.

Citing his case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the chaos that erupted after the 2007 General elections, Ruto added that his past experiences made him reflect more on Ogolla’s requests. 

The head of state further noted that among the most sensitive positions when making appointments was that of the Police Inspector General, Interior Cabinet Secretary, National Intelligence Service Director General and that of the Chief of Defence forces.

“I had been told to be careful who I appoint into those offices because they mean a lot and they are sensitive,” he added. 

"I was told not to be shy about appointing people from my tribe as it was safer, but we were taking a different trajectory as a country, where merit matters," he justified his decision to appoint Ogolla as the CDF.

Still, on the matter of Bomas, Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga pleaded with President Ruto to clear the allegations that concerned the General's involvement in the 2022 general elections.

“Before we put the General to rest, your Excellency I want us to remove the stigma because I knew this man very well,” 

“General Ogolla would never have contemplated or thought about going to Bomas of Kenya to force Mr Chebukati to alter the results of the last General Elections."

Ogolla was among those mentioned by former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati in his affidavit at the Supreme Court revealing how he was arm-twisted by Azimio la Umoja leaders and the National Security Advisory Council to influence the outcome of the August 9 General elections, hours before the announcement of William Ruto as the president-elect.

IEBC chairman, Wafula Chebukati issuing William Ruto his certificate after winning the election. /WILLIAM RUTO