I Have Not Allowed A Raila, Ruto Handshake- Atwoli

Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli on Sunday, April 2 slammed organisations and leaders pushing for talks between President William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja Leader Raila Odinga.

Atwoli was speaking during a Shop Stewards Preparatory Meeting held in Nairobi where he ruled out the possibility of him brokering a handshake deal between the two.

His reasoning was that he was the force behind Azimio’s formation and that if there was any move to call for a dialogue, it would come from him.

Raila Odinga and William Ruto when they met at Windsor hotel on June 29, 2022. /K24 DIGITAL

“I was at the forefront of the Azimio campaigns. I have never called for a handshake.

"They are all adults, above 18 years, how do you start saying you want them to talk? They are not children,” Atwoli remarked.

The COTU boss further asked Raila to accept the outcome of the August 9, 2022, presidential election to allow the country to move forward, while also condemning the anti-government protests called by the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition, saying the weekly demonstrations threaten the country's hailing economy.

On why he had previously worked with Raila, Atwoli held that he was sent by COTU and as a union representative he had no power to disagree with the workers’ choice.

He further noted that Raila lost fairly to President Ruto in the presidential election, adding that he managed to outsmart the Azimio coalition which had the backing of the previous government.

“If you had everything, and you lose to an outsider. Think hard, how did an outsider steal when you have everything in the house?" Atwoli posed.

“President Ruto is a smart politician and we need to be reasonable as Kenyans. Some things are irreversible. We must accept changes because they are there and cannot be reversed."

Atwoli also urged Kenyan workers to keep off the opposition's demonstrations scheduled for Monday, April 3 for the country to realise much-needed stability to thrive economically.

“We do not want to put the country on fire. We want to remain as brothers and sisters,” Atwoli added.

“I will not take workers to protests because the country already has a President. I have already talked with the President and he has committed to helping workers."

At the same time, Atwoli pledged to continue keeping the government of President Ruto in check even as he supports the government agenda.

The protests drew the attention of the African Union (AU) which on Tuesday, March 28 through Chairperson, Moussa Faki, expressed concern at the violence that sparked in various counties after the Azimio protests. Foreign embassies based in Nairobi the following day also called for a dialogue.

“As friends and partners to Kenya, we are deeply concerned by the recent unrest and violence as well as the destruction of places of worship and property.

“We, therefore, call on all leaders and all Kenyans to maintain peace, show restraint and work towards a swift resolution for the common good of Kenya,” a joint statement from Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States read in part.

African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Faki. /THE GUARDIAN NIGERIA