Francis Atwoli, the Secretary-General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu), has revealed that he was the one who asked President William Ruto to assist Opposition leader Raila Odinga in finding a job.
Speaking on Sunday during Cotu’s thanksgiving day service at St. Stephens Jogoo Road, Atwoli disclosed that he made the request during last year’s Labour Day celebrations.
“I asked President William Ruto during last year’s Labour Day celebrations, as a country, if we are to move towards one direction, to consider his friend, Raila Odinga. Even if it meant getting him a job at the UN or the African Union. Little did I know that it resonated with both of them,” Atwoli said.
He further explained that currently, they are all actively campaigning to ensure that Raila Odinga becomes the next Chairperson of the African Union Commission, with President William Ruto leading the campaign.
“Right now, all of us are campaigning for my in-law, the doyen of opposition politics Raila Amollo Odinga, transcending our political divides to secure the African Union Commission chairmanship, and it is being led by none other than President William Ruto,” Atwoli added.
Atwoli, who strongly campaigned for Raila Odinga to become Kenya’s fifth President, has since shifted his allegiance and now supports President William Ruto. He clarified that as a trade union, Cotu collaborates with the current government to address the needs of Kenyan workers.
Earlier in January, Atwoli had warned Raila Odinga that if his campaigns were mismanaged and he failed to win, he would resume his duties at Cotu and work with the government of the day.
“I told my Azimio people, if you mismanage the election and you are not elected, I will return to my office, and when I do, I will work with the government,” Atwoli stated.
He emphasized that as a unionist, his role is to negotiate with the government to ensure better welfare for workers.
