Francis Atwoli Regrets Advising Eugene Wamalwa To Join Azimio: "Alikuwa Ally Wa Ruto"

• Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) secretary general Francis Atwoli was a member of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition party before he shifted camp to Kenya Kwanza
• While speaking at a church service on Sunday, April 28, Atwoli said he influenced former Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa to join Azimio
• Wamalwa confirmed Atwoli's assertions but wondered how the outspoken trade union abandoned him and joined the government after elections

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) secretary general Francis Atwoli admitted that he convinced former Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa to join Azimio camp in the run-up to the 2022 General Election.

How Eugine Wamalwa ditched William Ruto

Speaking at St.Stephen's Church in Nairobi on Sunday, April 28, Atwoli said Wamalwa was a close ally of President William Ruto, but he persuaded him to join Raila Odinga's camp.

"I may be the reason, Eugene joined us in Azimio, he was a close ally of William Ruto. I approached him as the elder of Western and he heard my call and I left him there," Atwoli said.

The long-serving trade unionist said he was obliged to ditch Azimio and work with President William Ruto due to the nature of his job.

He conceded that Ruto outsmarted Raila's team, adding that he had no other option but to accept the results.

Before he left Azimio, Atwoli said he asked coalition leaders to back Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to take over the role of the opposition leader.

"As workers, we work with the government of the day. After a meeting, with the workers, we agreed that we were outsmart by Ruto. In our last meeting, I asked the opposition to be led by Kalonzo Musyoka,"

Eugine Wamalwa's response to Francis Atwoli

In his response, Wamalwa jokingly said he was yet to understand how and why the COTU boss left him in Azimio after persuading him to join the camp.

"I clearly remember you made me join Azimio. However, I'm not sure what circumstances you left me there. But I understand the tradition that COTU works with the government of the day," Wamalwa said.

Atwoli on why Azimio lost the elections

In the August 2022 General Election, Atwoli declared his support for the now-opposition Azimio before shifting the alliance to Kenya Kwanza.

The former close ally of Raila said they were outsmarted by Wiliam Ruto, who he said was skilled politically.

According to him, it was a win for the Luhya people, as they had Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangu'la.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke