By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has come out to share details of the last Azimio meeting he attended after the 2022 general election.
Atwoli was a key figure in the coalition during the campaign period but quit to join the Kenya Kwanza administration after the polls.
Speaking during a church service on Sunday, April 28, 2024, the trade unionists said he told the Azimio top leadership that it was time someone else was handed the leadership mantle within the opposition.
The meeting was chaired by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, ODM leader Raila Odinga and his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka.
“I told them now that Uhuru has not managed to plan for his succession and Raila has unsuccessfully vied for the top seat, it was time Kalonzo took over the opposition role,” Atwoli said.
“Since then, I have not attended any other Azimio meeting,” he added.
With Raila gunning for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship, with the support of President William Ruto and the government, Kalonzo has technically taken up the opposition leadership role.
But Raila has in the past insisted his AUC bid will not derail his involvement in local politics.
Meanwhile, Atwoli opened up on reasons he shifted allegiance from Azimio to Kenya Kwanza after the 2022 general elections.
According to the trade unionist, he had no option but to work with the new government.
“After Raila lost, we convened a meeting with union officials and we all agreed that we had tried our best, but Ruto was smarter. However, as a union, our policy is to work with the government of the day,” said the COTU boss.
Atwoli has since developed a close working relationship with President Ruto, whom he vocally campaigned against in 2022.