In April 2019, long-serving COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli sensationally claimed that Deputy President Wiliam Ruto’s name will not be on the ballot paper come August 2022.
The COTU boss, who is a self-declared staunch critic of the Kenya Kwanza alliance presidential flag bearer has always held the belief that the former Eldoret North MP will never be president before the ODM leader Raila Odinga.
His prophecy elicited a lot of criticism from William Ruto’s camp some accusing the vocal unionist of planning evil against the deputy president.
Three years down the line, Ruto’s name is on the verge of being on the ballot paper after being cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to run for the presidency.
But even after being cleared, the outspoken trade unionist still reckons that the Kenya Kwanza alliance supremo will not win the August polls.
In a cryptic message on Twitter on Saturday, June 4, Atwoli wondered what the Kenya Kwanza alliance team will say come August 9 after the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party presidential flag bearer is declared the winner.
“What will they say after the 9th of August which is not far? Na mkate miti!!!” Atwoli said on Twitter.
But speaking at Kamukunji grounds, during his first rally after clearance by IEBC, the Ruto rally told off Francis Atwoli saying no one will stop his presidential ambition.
“They were saying that I will not be on the ballot, today I have been cleared and included on the ballot paper. This is an important day, it shows that anyone in this country has the opportunity to become a President,” Ruto told an excited crowd.
Other Kenyans also took to mocking the trade unionist after his prophecy is likely not to happen.
“Prophet Atwoli Added to the list of many other false prophets. He’s on the ballot contrary to your Prophecies.” Turk Voices, a random Twitter user said.
“How are you Franci Atwoli, William Ruto has been cleared by IEBC to run for president. Are you of the same opinion that Ruto won’t be on the ballot in the 2022 elections?” Raphael Murungi posted on Twitter.
