Central Organization for Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has said it will be difficult for opposition leader Raila Odinga to beat President William Ruto in 2027.
Speaking during a church service in Bungoma town on Sunday, August 27, the outspoken trade unionist said the 2027 presidential contest will be a walkover for William Ruto.
“Sisi tulikuweka kando ukatoka kando ukapita sisi ambao tulikuwa na president (Uhuru Kenyatta). 2027 tutaweza wewe namna gani?” Atwoli said.
Loosely translated, “We sidelined you but you managed to beat us even with the backing of President Uhuru Kenyatta. How will we beat you in 2027?”
Atwoli, who rallied the Luyhia community to vote for the former Prime Minister further took a swipe at opposition leaders for organizing and taking part in protests.
The trade unionist said those who are holding protests have no offices to go back to after the election period elapsed, urging those who hold office to focus on their work.
“Mambo ya maandamano ni ya watu hawana ofisi. Wale watu walikuwa kwa Azimio akina Otuoma, Francis Atwoli, Ottichilo and the rest ambao walikuwa na ofisi wakati elections zilikwisha tulirudi kwa ofisi (“Protest matters are for people who have no office. Those people were at Azimio, the Otuoma brothers, Francis Atwoli, Ottichilo and the rest who had offices when the elections were over, we returned to the offices) he said.
It is worth noting that during the 2022 presidential elections, Atwoli campaigned against the now-President William Ruto insisting that he would hang himself once Raila is declared the fifth president-elect.
