Atwoli, who jumped ship to support President William Ruto after a long while of advancing a likely Raila presidency, implied that Ruto is shrewd and energetic to defend the seat. Speaking in Vihiga on Saturday, September 2, when he had graced the burial of a COTU official, the veteran trade unionist wondered the rationale of Ruto being trounced by Raila, yet that did not happen in 2022 when the latter had the backing of the state then under retired president Uhuru Kenyatta. “How will you unseat Ruto? While with Uhuru Kenyatta we sidelined Ruto but he still came and floored us. So in 2027 where will we get the energy to take on him? Mimi nikikaa nikiamka nasikia uchungu, na Raila je? Ako na nguvu za kukimbizana na Ruto?( Let’s speak the truth,Myself I feel tired whenever I get up, what about Raila)?” he posed. Raila had accused Atwoli of going to bed with the current regime at the expense of defending workers against the high taxation and cost of living. Atwoli’s response to Raila Not to take the chance lying down, the trade unionist took on Raila, questioning why he was still in denial after the polls. Atwoli explained that he had not abandoned workers in the country but had retreated to his office, unlike most opposition bigwigs. He stated that most of them did not have offices and hence had time for mass action protests on the streets. As for him, he said he was lobbying for the likes of Raila to get positions in Ruto’s government. “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,” said Atwoli.
BY TUKO NEWS