Central Organization for Trade Union (COTU) boss Francis Atwoli has heaped praises for President-elect William Ruto just days after the Supreme Court upheld his victory.
Atwoli, a staunch supporter of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday, September 9, admitted that Ruto is a smart politician who outsmarted everyone in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party.
Atwoli said the Azimio la Umoja Coalition party lacked political skills something that William Ruto had that saw him emerge victorious in the presidential race.
“Sisi tulienda kulala tukijua tumeshinda, kumbe sisi siasa ambayo haina ujuzi. Tuliona watu wakitupigia makofi tukadhani wako na sisi. Kumbe William Ruto alikuwa na skills and political smartness and he outsmarted us in Azimio,” Atwoli said.
Loosely translated to: “We went to bed knowing that we had won, but we were politicians who lacked knowledge. We saw people applauding us and thought they were with us. However, William Ruto had skills and political smartness and he outsmarted us in Azimio.”
The vocal trade unionists further advised supporters of Raila Odinga to accept William Ruto’s victory for the betterment of our country.
“We must accept his victory as we move the country forward peacefully,” Atwoli said.
Atwoli who was speaking during a funeral service in his Kakamega County said that from now henceforth, Raila will no longer be their “Baba” and that Ruto will now be their political father.
He urged Kenyans to familiarize themselves with President-elect William Ruto’s voice.
Ruto garnered 7.1 million votes to beat his arch-rival Raila Odinga who got 6.9 million votes.
The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition captain then moved to the Supreme Court to challenge Ruto’s election victory but the seven judges of the apex court dismissed Raila’s petition.
Ruto is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday, September 13.
