I have a confession to make. For political reasons, I never liked Francis Atwoli, the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) secretary general. Indeed, I have been guilty of hurling verbal stones at his person for being the system’s puppet.
But I have come to realise that whether I like or hate him, Mr Atwoli is the most important elder in the western Kenya hemisphere. He is the first quintessential Luhya elected as Cotu Secretary General, which has more than 1.5 million members. At 70 years, he is one of Kenya’s finest corporate gems. And the fact that he has been around for some time forces me to admit that he is an intelligent team player and a mainstay in western Kenya politics.
As far as Luhya unity is concerned, he has a wealth of information at his fingertips. In addition, those who know him say he is an all-inclusive man of impeccable character and passionate convictions.
Atwoli is a renowned anti-corruption crusader and a judicious political commentator. He is also a human rights activist who fights for the progress and rights of workers. One thing I admire about him is the way he takes on the high and mighty whenever it comes to light that they have been involved in corruption, especially involving public funds allocated to national projects.
Today, I esteem the Cotu boss because he fearlessly voices his opinion that workers have inalienable rights to freedom of expression and speech that must be protected. And even before he goes to the media, he strives to get his facts right. Many will concur with me that he buttresses his commentaries with facts and figures, never allowing sentiment or hearsay to vitiate his thought process, and never descending into the arena of partisanship. His disposition and decorum are worth mirroring.
Atwoli is the beacon of hope that will shape western Kenya politics for good governance and posterity. I am told the Luhya people love him because he is all encompassing.
Just like any other successful man, Atwoli has enemies. I am talking about those jealous Kenyans who never lack bad things to say about successful men and women. But as they say, life is war and just like in love, fair is foul and foul is fair.
Love him or hate him, Atwoli is the unifying factor in western Kenya politics. Those who are quick to infuse his past with muck should remember that we all have skeletons buried in our closets. Today, Atwoli’s past represents his personal and national gains. His past has prepared him for the future. In any case, he is not guilty of the allegations heaped on him by his character assassins, who are busy making mountains out of molehills because they have chosen to be deceptive. As far as the ‘Mulembe Nation’ unity is concerned, they are aware that he is the man of the moment hence their attempts to do everything outside the book to stop him.
Atwoli is the beacon of hope that will shape western Kenya politics for good governance and posterity. I am told the Luhya people love him because he is all encompassing. If the people of western Kenya want to go far, they must listen to him because there is nothing this man has not seen – he was there in the times of Masinde Muliro. He was around when former Vice President Kijana Wamalwa and former cabinet minister Moses Mudavadi were around. He was present in the days of Martin Shikuku and Burudi Nabwera. He has seen it all.
