Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula on Sunday, May 1, came out guns blazing to attack the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, terming him an irritant leader.
Wetangula accused Atwoli of undermining the dignity of the labour of Kenyan workers by misleading the labour movement in the country.
The Kenya Kwanza principal claimed that the COTU-K boss was living lavishly and benefiting from his position of influence without addressing the plight of workers.
He also hit out at the vocal trade unionist for promoting capitalism- an economic system in which private individuals own and control the nation's trade and industry in a country for individual interests.
"The Kenyan labour movement is led by a boisterous, opulent and irritant leader, adorning gold ornaments - Atwoli. He represents the ugly face of capitalist obscenity! Viva..viva!"Wetangula noted.
While making remarks during the Labour Day celebrations, Atwoli highlighted some of the achievements he made at the helm of COTU-Kenya, including the addition of its members and the improvement of its net value.
"A lot of people are writing things left and right because of our political standing, telling the people that what we stand for is not what the people stand for. I not only speak for Kenya, but I have also represented workers in 14 East African countries and Africa,"
"I have not only served in the Organization of the Africa Trade Union and Unity and am the Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation based in Brussels, Belgium," he reiterated.
Atwoli's flamboyant lifestyle has previously been met with ridicule from Deputy President William Ruto, who has many a time referred to him as a man of the chains (mtu wa nyororo).
On his part, Atwoli defended himself stating that his gold chains was a rosary given to him during his baptism, revealing that he once offered it to the DP when he was faced with the case in the International Criminal Court (ICC).
"When he was in The Hague in the Netherlands, I personally travelled and gave him one of my chains, which he threw aside. Now he comes out chest-thumping about how he will form the next government. Surely this man does not know God," he remarked.
