COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has promised former Prime Minister Raila Odinga that the 2027 presidential election is his to lose.
Speaking in Busia County on Sunday, January 28, the COTU boss said he will rally the Mulembe community to unite ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Na hapa kwetu Western, hapa tutafunga. Waluyhia tutaweka pamoja. Haitakuwa kiwanja ya kila mtu (And here in Western, we will lockit. We will unite. The region will not be everyone’s playground,” Atwoli said.
Atwoli said Western leaders have deliberated on key strategies for uniting the Mulembe nation to form the next government.
“This time round, Luhya leaders must not allow division in the Western region over political affiliations. Such divisions will not be good for the development of the region,” he said.
In the 2022 presidential poll, Atwoli heavily pushed for a Raila presidency and dedicated time to go around the country drumming up support for him.
However, Atwoli switched camps after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga lost to William Ruto in the 2022 presidential election.
The flamboyant trade unionist has been voicing support and working with President William Ruto.
He defended his move to work with the Kenya Kwanza government which a section of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party has since termed it betrayal.
“We employers and government and workers will work together because government provides an enabling environment from where we exist. And that is our job, to negotiate with the government,” he added.
