President William Ruto disclosed the appointment of General Francis Ogolla as the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) was a decision that he made against the advice of many.

During a media roundtable interview on Sunday night, Ruto revealed that he chose General Ogolla despite their previous clash during the election.

Speaking candidly about the appointment, President Ruto shared details of a lengthy conversation he had with General Ogolla, acknowledging the attempt made by the General to overturn his victory.

However, after reviewing General Ogolla's impressive credentials, Ruto concluded that he was the most qualified candidate to assume the role of CDF.

"I appointed General Ogolla. He was among the people who went to Bomas to try and overturn my victory but because when I looked at his CV he was the best person to become general, I called him and sat him down, I told him, my friend, you went to Bomas to try and overturn my victory but because you are the best person to be general, I'm going to give you the job," Ruto said.

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“Many things that are part of my system outweighed the mistake he had done.”

Ruto said he also took into consideration the possibility that General Ogolla might have been acting under the influence of the former Commander-in-Chief.

“This gentleman made a mistake maybe because the Commander-in-Chief at that time told him what to do,” he said.

During their discussion, Ruto claimed General Ogolla humbly accepted responsibility for his actions, expressing remorse.

“I have no defence, you do with me what you want. What I did was wrong,” Ogolla said.

The president emphasized that his decision to appoint General Ogolla as the new CDF was driven by merit rather than nepotism.

By selecting the most qualified candidate, he aimed to prioritize the competence and experience necessary for the role.

General Ogolla's involvement in the National Security Council came under scrutiny, as accusations were made regarding attempts to overturn President Ruto's victory in the August 9, 2022, presidential poll.

Outgoing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, had claimed that General Ogolla, along with other members of the National Security Advisory Committee, pressured him to alter the election results.

However, former Attorney General Kihara Kariuki denied these allegations