Grass root leaders from the Western Kenya region have named COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli to lead them in pre-election negotiations ahead of the 2022 General Election.
In a statement read by Vihiga Governor Wilberforce Otichilo, the elected leaders from the counties of Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, and Busia unanimously endorsed Atwoli as the region’s political power broker in the 2022 presidential elections.
“Noting that the country is geared towards political transition and that each community in Kenya is strategising to form and or be part of next government,
“We, therefore, resolved that Francis Atwoli shall coordinate and help the community, negotiate our stakes and be part of the next government,” the leaders said in a statement.
The leaders asked Atwoli to ensure the unity of purpose for the region and to ensure the region speaks in one voice asking the vocal unionist not to entertain leaders who will not be willing to work with other leaders towards forming the next government.
With barely 10 months to the 2022 elections, regions are especially those that would not be fielding serious presidential candidates are strategising on how they can dictate and/or influence the outcome of the 2022 presidential election.
For instance, in efforts geared at remaining politically relevant after the 2022 elections, the vote-rich Mt Kenya region unanimously endorsed Narck Kenya party leader Martha Karua as an interim spokesperson for the GEMA community.
Both Karua and Atwoli are known to be leaders who can make decisions that others shy away from, a factor that could have played out in their respective endorsements.
Atwoli who has been yearning for the unity of the Luyhia nation declared Musalia the Luhya spokesperson prior to the 2017 General Election.
The declaration followed a survey conducted by a team from Nairobi University’s faculty of Political Science between July and November 2016.
