Atwoli Rejects Plea to Mediate Ruto, Raila Wrangles, Lectures Uhuru

Saturday, April 29, 2023 –Central Organisation of Trade Union COTU boss Francis Atwoli has rejected request to mediate between President William Ruto and Honorable Raila Odinga.

Speaking in Nairobi on Saturday April 29 afternoon, Mr Atwoli said many persons have been making endless visits to his home with requests to help mediate peace between Raila and Ruto but he has since turned all of them down.

He argued that the best person to do the job should be Retired head of State Uhuru Kenyatta who has since left office; saying Uhuru’s peace keeping role should have been constitutionalised to keep him busy with the job unlike today when he has nothing to do politically – what triggers him to find one by any means.

“I warned in 2017 that Uhuru was still young and could become a problem.

“We should get to a point and squeeze this Constitution and say once the president has served for 10 years, he should become a peacemaker. That should be advocated for in the Constitution,” Atwoli clarified.

He recounted several instances he warned that Uhuru was still very young and could use his wealth to distabilise any regime but no body took it seriously.

The Vocal unionist, however, urged Mr. Kenyatta to reduce his involvement in national politics because this is not good for him and the country.

“Retired President should be a peacemaker. If you ask me to mediate between Raila and Ruto, Uhuru Kenyatta would have been doing that.

“Because once you become a retired president, you don’t need to take sides. You are expected to be a peacemaker in your country and internationally,” he advised.

Last Wednesday April 26, Mr. Kenyatta stormed Jubilee headquarters when he was tipped of an invasion by the police to take over the office against his wishes.

He would be heard castigating a section of rebels for instigating confusion into his party.