A collage of COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli and DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua. /FILE
Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has hit back at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, questioning his understanding of Kenya’s political history and dismissing his claim that Atwoli’s political backing cannot guarantee an electoral victory.
In a statement Sunday, Atwoli said his long involvement in Kenyan politics gave him a deeper understanding of the country’s political landscape than Gachagua might suggest.
Atwoli also disputed Gachagua’s assessment of his influence, pointing to his voting history and past political affiliations.
“It is, therefore, ignorance of the highest order for Gachagua to claim that, ‘If Atwoli supports you, you cannot win,’” Atwoli said.
He said he began voting in 1969, when he supported founding President Jomo Kenyatta, and later backed President Daniel Arap Moi after he assumed office in 1978.
Atwoli said he remained a member of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), adding that he supported Moi throughout his presidency.
He further said he voted for Raila Odinga in the 2007 presidential election, which was followed by a disputed outcome and a power-sharing agreement between Odinga and then-President Mwai Kibaki.
Atwoli also referred to his past encounters with Gachagua, making allegations about the former deputy president’s conduct while serving in the Provincial Administration in the 1990s.
“Someone should tell Rigathi Gachagua that I have a very functional brain and a remarkably clear memory that makes me lack sleep many days when I remember the atrocities that he committed in the 1990s when he served in the Provincial Administration,” Atwoli alleged.
He did not provide specific details or evidence in the statement to substantiate the allegations.
Atwoli further claimed that he had met Gachagua at State House, Kabarak, where he said former President Moi warned him against mistreating people under his administration.
The remarks come amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Gachagua emerging as a prominent figure in opposition politics after falling out with President William Ruto’s administration.
Atwoli appeared to question Gachagua’s experience in national politics, arguing that his own involvement in Kenyan politics stretches back several decades.
“While Gachagua has only participated extensively in national politics, in 2022, some of us have been in this game since the formative years of this Republic,” he said.
Atwoli also appeared to challenge Gachagua to wait for the next election before judging his political influence.
“And if he wants to know what politics really is, he should wait for next year,” Atwoli said.
Gachagua has previously made remarks questioning the electoral value of Atwoli’s political endorsements.
Atwoli’s latest response seeks to counter that narrative by highlighting his long political history and previous support for different presidential candidates.
