COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli dismissed claims by Cleophas Malala and allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that he had been politically embarrassed in the recent Kisa East Ward by-election in Khwisero, Kakamega County.
Atwoli dismissed claims that he suffered a defeat in his home turf, describing the narrative as a deliberate attempt to undermine his influence in Kakamega politics.
He insisted that Khwisero as a constituency has multiple wards, and he clarified that he hails from Khwisero Central, which is represented by a KANU MCA, not a DCP MCA, as claimed by Malala.
"For somebody to allege that he won in Khwisero, where Atwoli comes from and in my own ward is the stupidity of any given moment I've ever seen," Atwoli stated.
Malala earlier declared that Kisa East, where the DCP clinched the County Assembly seat, is Atwoli's home area, noting that the COTU boss hails from the same Ward and would, therefore, be under the representation of newly-elected DCP MCA, Aduda Okwiri.
"Kisa East is in Khwisero Constituency in Kakamega County, where Mr. Francis Atwoli comes from. In fact, Atwoli's village home is in Kisa East, and that is where he will now be ruled by a DCP Party MCA," Malala declared at a function on Sunday, November 30.
Atwoli, in response, also maintained that he did not participate in any MCA campaigns, saying the responsibility for such contests lies with the area MP, not national-level figures like himself.
According to Atwoli, linking him to the loss was both misleading and politically motivated.
"I only appeared in Malava constituency and then flew to Europe. I can campaign for anyone but not an MCA. I cannot reduce myself to that even if the position was vacant," Atwoli asserted.
Atwoli went ahead and accused Malala of using the by-elections to create the impression that his influence in the Western region had weakened.
He warned that the claims were misplaced and vowed to play an active role in the 2027 General election to counter what he termed political provocation.
The veteran unionist asserted that he has both the capacity and the networks to stop his rivals from gaining influence in Kakamega and on the national stage.
"I have the capacity to stop Malala from becoming anything in Kakamega. I have the capacity to stop Gachagua from becoming anything in Kenya. Wait for 2027, I will stop them," he stated
Atwoli emphasised that attempts to portray him as losing influence in the western region were premature, insisting that the real test will be the 2027 General Election.
He signalled a fierce confrontation ahead, saying those dragging his name into the by-election narrative will be decisively dealt with in future contests.
Atwoli spoke for the first time following the conclusion of the heavily contested Kisa East MCA seat that Gachagua's DCP candidate won.
