This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
On Sunday, Francis Atwoli, Secretary-General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu), made public his opposition to Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 presidential bid at the Bukhwala Seventh Day Adventist Church in Khwisero Constituency.
Atwoli criticized Ruto's frequent visits to Western Kenya, where he attends church functions and makes large cash donations, calling it a 'trend of handouts' that has made some Luhya leaders 'cheap and busy chasing handouts.'
He further stated that the Luhya community would never support Ruto's presidential bid, saying, 'Luhyas were known to be leaders and not beggars.'
Atwoli also warned Ruto to stop campaigning for the presidency in 2022, saying, 'Today, I want to tell the DP that he does not stand a chance of ascending the presidency in 2022. He should first tell Kenyans the source of his wealth before dreaming of becoming the next president.'
Atwoli concluded by stating that he would convene another meeting at Bukhungu Stadium to draw a list of politicians who would become the next governors, senators, and MPs, and that those campaigning for Ruto would soon be out of office.
