Raila and Atwoli’s Debut Public Encounter Post-Defection
Odinga, the leader of the opposition party Azimio, and Francis Atwoli, the secretary general of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), shared a podium on Saturday for the first time since Atwoli switched sides and vowed to support President William Ruto.
Raila and Atwoli met on Saturday, September 2 in Mwondi village, Vihiga County, where they both attended the funeral of Rajab Mwondi, the chairman of the COTU.
The meeting in Vihiga is the first known public gathering since the COTU leader met the Head of State in Nairobi on December 1, 2022, and pledged to support President Ruto, whom he had opposed before the 2022 presidential election.
At the funeral service, the two sat adjacent to one another and appeared to be in good spirits and without animosity.
Raila and Atwoli were surrounded by other senior leaders, including senior Central Organization of Trade Unions Headquarters administrators.
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Raila, the party leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), had long enjoyed the support of COTU. Atwoli, speaking on behalf of COTU in April 2022, put his support behind Raila’s presidential campaign.
COTU Chairman Rajab Mwondi passed away at the age of 67 on Wednesday, August 16th. Mwondi was born in Vihiga, Kenya, in the early 1980s, and he began his career as a trade unionist.
He eventually ascended to the position of chairman of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU).
Mwondo advocated for workers’ rights and social justice and led COTU in several successful campaigns for higher wages, better working conditions, and social security for Kenyan employees.
In addition, he was an outspoken critic of government policies he believed were detrimental to employees.
Atwoli surprised political observers when he declared his support for President William Ruto after the latter won the State House election.
The unionist campaigned vehemently against Ruto’s candidacy for president, declaring on record that Ruto would never succeed former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Raila and Atwoli’s Debut Public Encounter Post-Defection