On Thursday, December 1, Kenya’s President William Ruto met a delegation of leaders from the Western region.
Among those who met President William Ruto at State House include Central Organization for Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli.
Others who accompanied him are Prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale, former Kakamega gubernatorial candidate Cleophas Malala and Rashid Echesa, among others.
Atwoli, who strongly opposed Ruto’s presidential candidature, said he discussed an array of issues touching on politics, labor movement, and personal reconciliation.
The vocal unionist further said in a statement that he discussed Kenya’s ratification of the International Labor Organization (ILO).
“This morning I paid a courtesy call to President William Ruto whereby we held discussions on Kenya’s ratification of ILO C190 and outsourcing of labor.
“I also sought an appointment with the Head of State to meet and share with all COTU affiliated General Secretaries,” Atwoli said in a Tweet.
After the meeting, the flamboyant trade unionist was captured sharing light moments with the Head of State.
Atwoli’s meeting with the President came days after he differed with Azimio La Umoja Party Leader Raila Odinga on an assertion that Ruto is becoming a dictator.
“We are not a dictatorial state, we are nothing near there yet,” Atwoli strongly disagreed with Raila,
“Those who are saying Ruto is a dictator are leaders in political space, let them talk because that is what they fought for,” Atwoli said.
In the run-up to the August 9, presidential election campaigned fiercely against Ruto’s presidency, at one point going on record stating that Ruto will never succeed former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Ruto will never lead Kenya. We shall have a President in 2022, but it will not be William Ruto,” the Cotu boss said in 2019.
