Francis Atwoli Hilariously Responds to Uhuru Kenyatta after Criticising Ruto

Francis Atwoli Hilariously Responds to Uhuru Kenyatta after Criticising Ruto

A fresh political exchange has emerged between veteran trade unionist Francis Atwoli and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, following remarks by the retired head of state criticising the current administration of President William Ruto.

The back-and-forth comes amid renewed political positioning ahead of the 2027 General Election, with leaders increasingly revisiting the events and decisions surrounding the 2022 polls.

Uhuru recently faulted voters in the Mt Kenya region for overwhelmingly supporting Ruto’s presidential bid, despite his endorsement of opposition leader Raila Odinga. According to the former president, the decision to back Ruto has contributed to governance challenges, including allegations of corruption and concerns over youth abductions.

“I told you to avoid falling for the sweet tongue and words of politicians… I told you so… Listen to leaders, leaders, not politicians,” Uhuru said, urging voters to reconsider their choices ahead of the next election cycle.

His remarks have since drawn sharp reactions from political figures across the divide, with Atwoli offering one of the most pointed responses.

Speaking at a public event, the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) boss dismissed Uhuru’s criticism and instead turned the spotlight on the former president’s own tenure, accusing him of failing to fully support his preferred successor during the last election.

“Someone tell him to support his successor. He wouldn’t have been president were it not for William Ruto… let him not lie to anyone that he will make them president because he is too lazy,” Atwoli said.

In his remarks, Atwoli referenced his long experience working with past administrations, including those of Kenya’s founding president Jomo Kenyatta, former President Daniel arap Moi, and the late Mwai Kibaki. He also noted that he had interacted closely with Uhuru during his presidency, particularly on labour-related matters.

Atwoli further claimed that Uhuru did not actively campaign for Odinga during the 2022 elections, despite publicly backing him under the Azimio La Umoja coalition.

“He never even organised a single function for Azimio to rally support for Raila Odinga,” Atwoli alleged.

Beyond his critique of Uhuru, Atwoli expressed strong confidence in President Ruto’s chances of securing a second term, dismissing the opposition as fragmented and ineffective.

“We no longer have opposition in Kenya. We have leaders who lost and are harbouring hate. Hate is different from politics,” he said.

The outspoken union leader also criticised opposition figures for failing to support government efforts in addressing corruption, particularly in the wake of recent arrests linked to irregularities in the fuel sector.

“When corrupt individuals in the fuel sector were arrested, I expected a responsible opposition to support the president,” he added.

Atwoli went further to make a bold prediction about the next election, asserting that the outcome would be clear well before the final tally.

“On election day at 10am, William Ruto will be the president of Kenya. Don’t say you were not told,” he declared.

The exchange highlights the deepening political divisions in the country, as leaders align themselves ahead of the next electoral cycle. Analysts note that such rhetoric reflects ongoing efforts to consolidate regional support and shape public opinion, particularly in key voting blocs like Mt Kenya.

As political debate intensifies, observers continue to call for issue-based engagement, warning that personal attacks and inflammatory language could heighten tensions in an already competitive political environment.

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Francis Atwoli Hilariously Responds to Uhuru Kenyatta after Criticising Ruto