Mathira Member of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua has hit out at COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli over his remarks that Deputy President William Ruto will not become president in 2022.
Gachagua, speaking on Citizen TV’s Day Break show on Thursday, said the outspoken COTU boss is entitled to his own opinion and does not speak for the millions of Kenyans.
“The decision on who is to become the president of Kenya will be made by the people of Kenya. Atwoli may have his personal opinion, which he is entitled to, but not speak for Kenyans. Whom does he speak for? Is he God?” Posed Rigathi.
Gachagua went on slam Atwoli saying he is unfit to speak about matters politics on national television without first addressing the issues faced by workers whom he is supposed to serve under his mandate.
“I have never heard the workers of Kenya give him the mandate to speak on political matters. The workers of Kenya have serious challenges which he does not articulate,” said the MP.
The legislator laughed off reports of Atwoli’s perceived political influence saying, when he (Rigathi) was still a District Officer in Kakamega, the COTU chief ran for an elective seat and could not even manage to get 1,000 votes.
“He was a candidate in a place called Khwisero and he didn’t even secure 1,000 votes. I don’t know what sway he has politically, many times he has been marketing Raila for presidency and all those times he failed,” stated Rigathi.
Atwoli, during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive show on Wednesday night, opined that DP Ruto emerge victorious in next year’s presidential election.
Atwoli insisted that the very fact that Ruto’s biggest competitor on paper is Raila Odinga makes it even more difficult for him to win given the wealth of political experience that the ODM leader brings to the table.
“Raila was called a government project but it is the other way round the government is Raila’s project. The man got into politics at the age of fourteen which means he is seasoned and adept when it comes to political matters. He is a very good strategist and the only way you can stop him is by employing an excellent contingency plan,” Atwoli said.
