.
Words like charismatic, combative, no nonsense and maverick whenever used could easily be attributed to one man Cotu boss Francis Atwoli he of the “Shenzi sana “tag line.
The flamboyant career trade unionist has faded off trading off his true self to a rained on personality he is now exhibiting of late.
“The current Atwoli has given credence to the adage that a raging fire begets cold impotent ash”.
Prior to the 2022 General elections as he drummed up support for Azimio, Atwoli had earned himself the title of the defacto Ruto destroyer. He did his job of deconstructing Ruto and his company of Mudavadi and Wetangula so well that those who believed in him would hear nothing of a Kenya Kwanza win.
Atwoli deconstructed Mudavadi a man he helped make by unveiling him as the defacto Luhya king-pin. Atwoli crisscrossed the former Western province and ensured Mudavadi and Wetangula had a hell of time trying to convince Luhyas to support the Kenya Kwanza outfit.
His “kata miti Sugoi” (cut all the trees in Ruto’s village to deny him a tree on which to hang himself on after election loss) was so very popular and when the results went against his wishes, Atwoli had no face at all.
Atwoli’s 360° turn from Azimio to Kenya Kwanza marked his downfall and lack of confidence from many of those who loved and adored him.
Atwoli just like Soul who later became Paul took a 360° degrees turn from an anti -Ruto crusader to a Ruto defender much to the disbelief of those with him in Azimio.
This Paul’s moment saw Atwoli be the first to not only acknowledge Ruto as president but to swear allegiance to him.
“We knew that we were going to beat Ruto and his team, little did we know that he would outsmart us. We are now under his rulership” Atwoli declared.
Atwoli turned labor day celebrations into a praise and worship event.
As a unionist, one would have expected Atwoli to champion the plight of the many suffering workers but instead he seized the moment to sing praises to the president reminiscent of the dark Kanu days. In Fact Atwoli was almost going down on his knees as he serenaded the pensive Mtukufu rais Ruto.
To prove his helplessness, Atwoli asked the president to award workers whatever salary increment he deemed fit.
“Mr president(you have the meat and the knife) you are worker number one, you hold the keys to everything please whatever you wish to add to our workers, as their secretary I will gladly accept” Atwoli.
This and many other sentiments have depicted Atwoli as a tired trade unionist who must be replaced soonest.
PSRA(Private Security Regulatory Authority) director Mr Fazul Mohammed has been at the forefront in calling for a change of guard at Solidarity house which houses COTU.
Fazul opines that Atwoli has outlived his usefulness at Cotu and her must pave way for new ideas. Going by Atwoli’s recent utterances one will easily side with Fazul.
Atwoli has been at COTU since 2001.He is on record opposing term limits for trade unionist by giving examples of fellows in India and Switzerland who have served for over 50yrs.
Do you think Atwoli should be let to do his half a century rule at Cotu?
