COTU boss Francis Atwoli has revealed that he does not vie for a political seat for fear of losing in an election.
According to the veteran trade unionists, who is active in shaping western Kenya politics, he is a very bad loser and might not handle the possible loss if he actively joined elective politics in Kenya.
Atwoli, who is the Luhya coordinator, said that he is better off as an onlooker than a contestant for a political seat.
“I have never run for the elective seat [political office] because I fear being defeated. Yes, it is fear of failure and to be very honest, I am a bad loser. I don’t like losing because when I lose I can’t eat. So I better stay in the corner where I am safe,” Atwoli said.
However, it is untrue that Fracis Lumasayi Atwoli has never vied for a political seat.
In 1997, the COTU boss contested for the Butere parliamentary seat on a KANU ticket and lost.
He has since been an onlooker who has an influence on the politics of the western Kenya region as well as the nation.
The outspoken labour leader is a sworn enemy of Deputy President William Ruto, whom he has termed as a dangerous man to become the president of Kenya.
In his recent interview, Atwoli warned the Mt Kenya residents that their interests are not safe with William Ruto as the president.
He told them that Luhyas have nothing to lose if Ruto becomes the president.
“Luhyas and people from Western Kenya are used to salaries, being cooks and watchmen. But you people in Central Kenya, in whose hands will you be safe?” Atwoli posed in reference to who between Deputy President.
Atwoli explained that Ruto has proven to be dangerous by not being subordinate to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“If you are a deputy aspiring to be a president in the future, you have to support the person currently in power until the end of his term. By doing so, he will also support your bid,” he said.
