A video of Central Organisation of Trade Union (COTU) boss, Francis Atwoli predicting former Prime Minister Raila Odinga unlawfully declaring a holiday resurfaced on Friday, March 17, days after his prediction came to pass.
In the video captured on October 26, 2020, during the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) launch, Atwoli indicated that the former premier was among the few politicians who had the guts to declare a public holiday.
He noted that the ODM boss had a huge following and would be able to influence the country's operations if he declared a holiday.
Atwoli added that only the late Kenneth Matiba and Raila wielded such powers.
"Raila is among the few Kenyans, and I can say that he is the only one after the Late Kenneth Matiba who can give a holiday outside the government-gazetted ones.
"If he says that people should not go to work and go to Uhuru park, he does not need facilitation, and that venue will be full," he stated.
The video of Atwoli emerged days after Raila unlawfully declared Monday, March 20, a public holiday.
According to Raila, the holiday would enable them to hold their mass action against President William Ruto's government.
Since the emergence of the video, Kenyans opined on Atwoli's prediction, which passed barely two years after his remarks.
Legally, Raila does not have the power to declare a public holiday. According to the Public Holidays Act, only the Interior Cabinet Secretary can gazette a public holiday.
"The Minister may at any time if he thinks fit, by notice in the Gazette, declare any day to be a public holiday either in addition to the days mentioned in the Schedule or in substitution for any of those days and either throughout Kenya," reads the Act in part.
Notably, the Ministry of Interior refuted reports that CS Kithure Kindiki had gazetted March 20 as a holiday after a fake Gazette notice emerged online.
Meanwhile, Ruto advised his arch-rival to work with the Interior CS and the police to ensure that the March 20 demonstration does not turn violent.
"It is your responsibility to work with the police to ensure that for the rest of the citizens in Kenya, their lives are not disrupted their property is not destroyed and their businesses are not affected and they can go to work, you can carry out demonstrations," the President stated.
