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A fierce verbal exchange has erupted in Kenya’s political arena after Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli delivered a sharp, detailed counteroffensive against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The dispute escalated after Gachagua publicly alleged that the veteran trade union leader was suffering from dementia and possessed a political track record that guaranteed failure for any candidate he endorsed.
Unfazed by the personal jab, Atwoli strongly rejected the medical diagnosis, asserting that his memory remains exceptionally sharp and fully functional.
He stated that his vivid recollection of past events often keeps him awake at night, particularly when reflecting on Gachagua’s actions during the 1990s while serving as an officer in the Provincial Administration.
Atwoli revealed that he distinctly remembers a meeting at State House, Kabarak, where late President Daniel arap Moi personally admonished Gachagua against mistreating and humiliating the very citizens he was appointed to serve.
Tracing his long involvement in national affairs, Atwoli highlighted a voting history that spans over five decades.
He pointed out that he cast his first parliamentary vote for Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in 1969, repeated the choice in 1974, and consistently backed President Moi starting from 1978.
As an unwavering member of KANU, Atwoli noted that he supported a president who never lost an election, directly challenging Gachagua’s claim that his backing is a political jinx.
Furthermore, he noted his support for Raila Odinga in the controversial 2007 election, reminding critics that Odinga’s party won the largest share of parliamentary seats in that contest.
Dismissing Gachagua’s comments as sheer political ignorance, Atwoli attributed the remarks to an opponent who entered national politics only recently.
Warning that a deeper political lesson awaits his rival in the coming year, the union veteran declared that the upcoming election cycle will serve as a definitive reality check.
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