Kimilili Member of Parliament and self-declared Deputy President William Ruto ally, Didmus Barasa, discredited Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli when he addressed a section of his constituents on Wednesday, January 8.
In what started off as a critique of a Building Bridges Initiatives (BBI) meeting called for by the workers union's boss and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Barasa ended up launching a brazen attack on Atwoli's character.
The Jubilee legislator advised President Uhuru Kenyatta against engaging the Cotu leader, terming him as always ill motived.
Barasa accused Atwoli of being a threat to what he referred to as young children.
"I am telling President Uhuru Kenyatta to beware of Francis Atwoli, he should not let Atwoli get close to his young children. You might invite him to your home thinking he is there to discuss matters development but he is there scouting among your children," he remarked.
In his address, Barasa was also critical of Atwoli leading a section of leaders from the 'Mulembe nation' in a meeting to discuss the BBI.
He revealed that the convention would cost upwards of Ksh8 million, and branded any leader from the region who would grace the meeting as an enemy of the community.
"We have been informed of a BBI meeting at Bukhungu that will cost an estimated Ksh8 million led by Francis Atwoli and a few other leaders," Barasa stated.
"If there is a leader from the region that will attend the meeting costing taxpayers 8 million, that is an enemy of this community and we should condemn them for it," he added.
Barasa called out Atwoli for the lack of initiative in attempting to develop and improve the lives of locals from Western Kenya, rather he was involved in BBI politics.
"Atwoli, you have never convened a meeting to discuss the challenges that face the community yet you are holding a Ksh8 million meeting to discuss the BBI," Barasa critiqued.
On Wednesday, January 8, Capital News reported that 12 lawmakers from the region vowed to boycott the forum.
Attempts to reach Atwoli for a response to the MP's scathing attack were unsuccessful as by the time of going to press, our calls and text messages went unanswered.
