Central organization of Trade Unions (COTU-Kenya) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli on Saturday, May 23, fired back at Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi who had earlier in the week described the trade unionist as 'barely literate.'
The Senior counsel had made the remarks during an interview on JK Live on May 20, stated that Atwoli had no capacity to advise the president.
"What advice can Atwoli give the President? Atwoli is barely literate. What advice can he give to a President? Maybe crack jokes or throw telephones," he stated referring to an incident where Atwoli threw his phone when it rang interrupting an interview.
The veteran trade unionist in an interview with K24 TV responded to the lawyer's remarks by alleging that the lawyer had acquired his wealth via illegal means.
"Soon, you will hear more from me about how he acquired his wealth. I would put on the table all the bitter facts about him. I will expose his fake lifestyle," told reporters at his Ildamat home in Kajiado County.
Atwoli further claimed that the lawyer's arrogance was brought about by his business interests in the banking sector.
“Ahmednasir should know that owning a commercial bank does not make you intelligent. I say that without fear of contradiction. As a lawyer, he does not respect the rule of law," the Cotu Secretary General stated.
During the interview on Wednesday, Ahmednasir faulted Atwoli for failing to defend the rights of workers over the years.
"He's running around peddling rumours as advice. It is tragic that as a trade unionist rather than helping workers he is fighting politicians like Deputy President William Ruto," he added with amusement.
Atwoli has been vocal on the state of Kenyan politics and has appeared on the JKL show and other platforms giving declarations about the future of politics in the country.
He has on several occasions alluded to a possible alliance between Uhuru, Raila Odinga and Gideon Moi while maintaining that it was the end of the road for Deputy President William Ruto.
The Cotu- Secretary-general opined that Uhuru would not retire past 2022, rather take up a powerful position in the government following a possible amendment of the constitution via a referendum.
