During the release of the Building Bridges Initiative report that took place on Wednesday, November 27, Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli's powerful introduction almost sent President Uhuru Kenyatta scampering for safety.
Atwoli's initial bellow almost shook the entire auditorium, catching the president by surprise and forcing him to flinch.
"Yes," Atwoli bellowed in his signature style as the president almost made a run.
"Yes...Yes....thank you very much, your excellency, the President of Kenya and all invited guests," he stated as the crowd broke out in laughter.
The Cotu secretary-general lauded the president and ODM leader Raila Odinga for the March 9, 2018 handshake.
He stated that the violence previously experienced in the country crippled the economy by making it unsafe for workers to continue with their everyday activities.
"I say this as an international worker who speaks for Asia and Africa. Yesterday, when the president was speaking, I cried because he spoke from his heart and he said that we have to be trustworthy people," Atwoli stated.
On May 1, 2017, the trade unionist was among the leaders who had begun to propose the amendment of the 2010 constitution.
He stated that it needed to be made more inclusive to accommodate every Kenyan.
On the other hand, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen booed in the presence of President Uhuru Kenyatta by the audience.
Murkomen claimed the speakers chosen to address the audience was skewed, as leaders allied to the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had been given priority and were using the opportunity to criticise their opponents.
