The Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Francis Atwoli has revealed that he would step out of the political limelight after the 2022 General Election.
Appearing on KTN News on Wednesday, February 2, Atwoli noted that the political realm is a dynamic field-hence the younger generation coming up would end up taking the slots filled by the current leaders.
He added that with the current trend in the digital age, young leaders are stepping up, meaning that he along with his peers had one chance to influence the political landscape before ultimately hanging up his boots.
Appealing to the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) team, Atwoli pointed out that the coalition had a chance to join the Azimio la Umoja movement in order to be in the ruling government should Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"We are heading and living in a generation that is not ours. We must accept that, they have only shot (speaking of the OKA regime).
Even me, after these elections, you will never hear about me. I'm preparing my exit because you must accept that there is a limit for everything and there are others who are coming after us," Atwoli stated.
Unveiling his next plan after the elections, Atwoli affirmed that he would play an advisory role to the upcoming leaders.
Further, he castigated the move by Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi and his FORD-Kenya counterpart Moses Wetangula for ditching OKA and joining the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in an alliance dubbed the Kenya Kwanza movement.
"We must position them, and we can only remain as advisors if they so wish. But we must accept that. At my age, why should I continue calling myself as a champion who tells you after August 2022 that Mudavadi and Wetangula are irrelevant even if they went back. That's why those people in OKA should join Azimio to gain relevance," Atwoli stated.
The vocal trade unionist and a fierce critic of the Deputy President William Ruto also faulted Mudavadi for calling out the President on numerous occasions over the state of the country. Atwoli revealed that Kenyatta supported the ANC party leader by taking care of the burial expenses of Mudavadi's step mother, Hannah Mudavadi.
"Mudavadi will go down before Uhuru does because he has disparaged a person who helped him lay his mother to rest," he added.
The political landscape is shaping up as the days draw near to the 2022 General Election with formation of coalitions and defections hitting fever-pitch as leaders make calculative moves in a bid to endear themselves to the electorate.
