Central Organisation for Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli on Sunday, April 30, pleaded with Jubilee party leader Uhuru Kenyatta to broker a truce between President William Ruto and Azimio Chief Raila Odinga.
Speaking during a church service in Umoja, Atwoli stated that Uhuru was the only one in a position to broker a truce between Raila and Ruto.
He challenged Uhuru to stop taking sides and live up to his statesmanship role and reputation as a lover of peace.
"That is why I appeal to my brother Uhuru Kenyatta, who is now a statesman, a retired president. He should be a peacemaker to bring about peace. Let somebody see sense and say we do not want demonstrations," Atwoli noted.
The COTU boss further asked the former Premier to accept that Ruto floored him in the election stating that his end goal was unattainable.
"To my own brother-in-law, Raila Odinga, we must accept. We had everything and the government. To come back and tell the people to go to the streets to get Ruto out of office is unimaginable. It cannot happen, Haiwezekani," he remarked.
Atwoli also intimated that he had landed a top role in the Kenya Kwanza government but declined to delve deeper into the exact position.
"You must work with the government of the day and as I am talking to you now, I have a serious and senior position besides being COTU Secretary General in President William Ruto's administration," he disclosed.
The SG reckoned that demonstrations were of no benefit and explained that women, children and workers suffered the most.
His sentiment came hours after Nairobi Regional police boss Adamson Bungei denied Azimio permission to hold mass action protests in the country.
Bungei noted that the violence, destruction of property, and deaths witnessed in past protests indicated a violation of other human rights.
On her part, Azimio Principal Martha Karua insisted that the protests scheduled for Tuesday, May 2, would go on as planned since they did not require permission from the police.
