Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli advised Deputy President William Ruto to adopt a conciliatory approach toward ODM leader Raila Odinga, framing the move as essential to maintaining unity under President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Atwoli emphasized that Ruto, as deputy president, operates under Uhuru, who embodies national unity and is regarded as the nation's father. He argued that challenging the president's allies would undermine this symbolic relationship.
Using a metaphor, Atwoli told TV anchor Jeff Koinange: "If your father dies and an unfamiliar man emerges from your mother's house early in the morning, you must accept him as your new father." The analogy accompanied a March 6 interview on JKL, where Atwoli discussed political dynamics.
When asked if Ruto should address Odinga as "father," Atwoli affirmed the necessity, warning that continued conflict with the AU envoy would harm the deputy president's prospects. He advised Ruto to avoid engaging with Odinga's allegations of corruption, stating, "I would remain silent, as if I didn't exist, and seek an exit from the situation."
This advice followed Odinga's public criticism of Ruto's commitment to anti-graft efforts, which the ODM leader argued jeopardized national anti-corruption initiatives despite widespread public support.
