Atwoli, Raila Trade Blows In Face-To-Face Meeting

Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga and Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli turned the burial ceremony of COTU Chairman Rajab Mwondi in Vihiga County into an opportunity for them to exchange verbal blows with each other.

It all began on Saturday, September 2 when Raila accused the vocal trade unionist of joining President William Ruto's government and abandoning his cause as the defender of workers.

"Trade unions were at the forefront of fighting for independence for our country. Many trade unions were jailed for running after independence. The unions are only needed to fight for workers.

"It is wrong when the trade unions marry with the government. There is a problem there," argued Raila.

The former Prime Minister pointed out that the government, employers and workers were distinct, and each had a role to play in the country.

He wondered who would fight for the rights of the workers if the trade unions aligned with the national government, especially in the current times when Kenyans are grappling with the high cost of living and punitive taxes.

"There are usually three sides: the workers, the government, and the employers. Each has its own stance.

"However, with this worsening situation, it means that many Kenyans have cried out more about the rising cost of living," he went on.

Atwoli, however, responded to Raila by accusing him of living in denial, one year after the polls on August 9, 2022.

He further refuted Raila's claims of abandoning workers in the country, adding that he had retreated to his office, unlike most of the opposition bigwigs.

He further stated that most of them did not have offices and hence allocated time for protests, claiming he was the one lobbying for them to get positions.

"I went back to the office. And the truth of the matter is that they don't have an office, and I am the one trying to find them an office. Let's speak the truth.

"When it comes to protests, you wonder what the end goal is. I haven't abandoned. They cannot go on the road. On the road, what do you want to achieve? How will you remove Ruto?" Atwoli fired back. 

Atwoli reiterated his sentiments that Azimio lost the 2022 general elections over a lack of adequate preparedness by failing to send agents to polling stations, despite having all the government machinery to secure the presidency.

In the results announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), President Ruto beat Azimio candidate Raila with 7.1 million votes against Raila's 6.9 million. Atwoli is on record dismissing chances of Ruto eventually succeeding former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The COTU boss was also confronted regarding remarks he made last Sunday during the Interdenominational Thanksgiving and Prayer Service – Kanduyi, Bungoma County, where he implored President Ruto, who was in attendance, to give appointments to “idle” Azimio leaders to end anti-government protests.

Raila reacted to the remarks by asserting that former Kakamega Governor, Wycliffe Oparanya, who was in attendance at the ceremony, was already heavily occupied in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party and hence did not need any appointment from the Kenya Kwanza government.

“Mr. Atwoli, I don’t know what office you want to appoint Oparanya to. ODM is Oparanya’s office and it’s a big party with many elected leaders,” Raila stated.

“Let those in the opposition do their oversight work."

“Francis Atwoli, I respect you even if you don’t have anything nice to say, no matter that we are neighbours, but to come out and embarrass me is not in order, to say that I am idle that is why I am protesting is disrespectful,” Oparanya lamented regarding Atwoli's remarks.

Oparanya added that Atwoli had since severed ties with him after he aligned himself with the government.

“You used to call me to your house and we would eat together, but today you don’t call me, but if you are eating alone just go ahead, we on the other hand do not sleep hungry."

Francis Atwoli with President Ruto at State House on December 1, 2022. /TWITTER.FRANCIS ATWOLI