President William Ruto has revealed details of his phone conversation with Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale shortly after the air crash that killed Chief of Defense Forces General Francis Ogolla.
Speaking during his visit to Ogolla’s home on Friday, Ruto said he was alerted that Defense CS was on the line seeking to communicate to him about an air incident involving the Kenya Air Force chopper carrying General Ogolla.
In his narration, Ruto said that he started fearing for the worst even before the CS spoke and pleaded with him not to relay any negative news.
Unfortunately, however, Duale broke the news and informed him that the CDF had passed away.
Ruto, shocked and struggling to come into terms with the news, then asked whether there were any military officers on the ground.
In his response, Duale answered that there was a Major and a Brigadier on the ground. At the time, the President wanted a clarification to ascertain that indeed Genral Ogolla was dead.
“When I was told that he was on the line and the subject was a plane crash and the plane was carrying the CDF and other officers, I took the phone and told him please don’t tell me negative news,” Ruto recounted.
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“The bad news came. It took me a while, but then I asked Duale. Please call someone on the ground and he told me that there is a major and brigadier on the ground. I wanted to speak to them because it was not easy to believe that General Ogolla was gone. If there is one appointment that I made that I was very proud was that of General Ogolla because he deserved the appointment because he was a professional and a leader.”
Ruto reveals last conversation with Ogolla
In his speech, Ruto further recalled the last conversation they had together on Tuesday. According to him, General Ogolla spoke about his itinerary for the week including the assignment to inspect the projects in the North Rift and his plans to visits his home in Siaya.
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“I was with General Ogolla on Tuesday, and we had discussed many things as is tradition between myself and him. He had given me his itinerary on where he wanted to go on duty,” he added.
Speaking as he condoled with General Ogolla’s family, the President described former CDF as one of the appointments he was proud to have made, citing his professionalism and reforms he had instituted in the KDF.
In his official announcement on Thursday, Ruto assured that the cause of the crash would be investigated as he expressed his sorrow and grief.
A family spokesperson on Friday confirmed that Ogolla had left a wish specifying the date and place he would like to be buried after his death.
Consequently, the family announced that Ogolla will be buried on Sunday, April 21, at his Siaya home in line with his wish.
Meanwhile, the country is still observing the three days of national mourning as declared by President Ruto on Thursday.
Local leaders and international partners have also relayed their messages of condolences to mourn the fallen soldiers with many describing them as valiant and true heroes.
On Friday, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, “On behalf of the Department of Defense, I send my deepest condolences to the people of Kenya and the Kenya Defence Forces on the tragic death of Kenya’s Chief of Defense Forces, General Francis Ogolla.”
