On Thursday, April 28, 2022, COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli made a stunning U-turn in his relationship with Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, whom he had previously referred to as his son.
Speaking to COTU shop stewards, Atwoli claimed that Sakaja had been corrupted after shifting his loyalty from Jubilee under President Uhuru Kenyatta to Deputy President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Atwoli alleged that Sakaja had intermingled with 'bad people' and was no longer the young man he had grown fond of. He further claimed that Sakaja 'walks around with thieves.'
Atwoli went on to campaign for Sakaja's competitor, Polycarp Igathe, who will be contesting for the seat under a Jubilee party ticket under the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party.
'I am pleading with you, even if you do not want to vote for Igathe, kindly do not give Sakaja your vote. Please, let me speak to the Mulembe nation, do not allow him to convince you to support his bid. Don't!' Atwoli emphasized.
The COTU boss further dismissed the notion that the Luhya community had been sidelined from the capital city's top leadership, noting that the decision to pick Igathe over Westland MP Tim Wanyonyi was just part of a political strategy.
