Founding President Jomo Kenyatta in a past event. details on the fallout with the Military chief Joel Ndolo have been leaked for the first time by CIA. Photo/nation.co.ke
Details surrounding the fallout between the country’s first army chief, Joel Ndolo and President Jomo Kenyatta, which led to the first coup attempt in 1971, have been disclosed in a report by American spy agency, CIA.
Ndolo, who quit before the plot was unearthed, was reportedly concerned with rampant tribalism in public service, ammunition being given to civilians from the president’s tribe and secret oathing within the military, reports the Standard.
According to CIA, the army chief was also disturbed by the fast-tracking of unnamed officer from the president’s tribe up to the ranks to succeed him even though a Kamba [Jackson Mulinge) was next in line.
“The government have has been concerned over military loyalties. The president is now relying on GSU and paramilitary police from his tribe to counter the predicament,” says the report.
Ndolo was finally arrested along Chief Justice Kitili Mwendwa and a host of other politicians allied to opposition leader Jaramogi Odinga, who had been put under house detention a year before.
The report further reveals that Ndolo was bitter with the government due to poor working conditions of military officers and inability to purchase modern weaponry by the government.