Jeff Koinange's Question that Birthed Atwoli Meme

COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli during an interview with Jeff Koinange on Wednesday, February 24.
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli during an interview with Jeff Koinange on Wednesday, February 24.
File

The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary general Francis Atwoli has caused a buzz due to the recent memes circulating online following an interview with Citizen TV news anchor Jeff Koinange.

Jeff had invited Atwoli on Wednesday, February 24, to discuss the pertinent issues facing the country among them the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI's) influence in the Mt Kenya region and the state of the nation.

During the interview, the COTU boss kept evading the question on the political aspirations of the Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga in the coming 2022 General elections.

COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli during a past Labour Day celebration
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli during a past Labour Day celebration
File

"You are just evading my question, just tell me yes or no, can he beat Deputy President William Ruto?" Jeff asked.

"I want to tell you that I dismissed Ruto a long time ago and I don't want to compare the two (Ruto and Raila). I dismissed him because he is not going to be the President come 2022, so how will he be beaten and he's already below the standards, listen to me Jeff I'm an elder.

"I told you Jeff, I don't know who is going to be the President but I know who is not going to be the President, Alaa Alaa Alaa," Atwoli stated much to the amusement of Jeff who went on a break following the remarks.

The last bit of the quote has since gone viral and is widely used on social media to express shock or surprise. 

During the interview, he also addressed speculation of an alliance between Raila, Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana and former United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) boss Mukhisa Kituyi.

The unionist affirmed that alliances are prompted on a situation but insinuated that Raila couldn't be dealt a bad hand within the political scene.

"I have told you that when you are seating with Raila on the same table, don't be deceived that he is with you there, his mind is somewhere calculating and always has a plan B and C.

"So to say you're ganging up against Raila, you're wasting your time," he said.

This is not the first time the politician has caused a stir at the Citizen TV studios. In another interview with Jeff in 2019, Atwoli flung his iPhone 11 pro max across the studio in a fit of rage.

Prior to the incident, the outspoken leader had boldly predicted that Ruto stood no chance of securing the Presidency in 2022. 

Watch the video below

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