Francis Atwoli has earned himself much criticism and less accolades after he made daring remarks concerning President Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership beyond 2022.
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, during the yesterday Labour Day holiday celebration was concerned how a ‘young’ President Uhuru Kenyatta would survive beyond 2022 if he was not in government.
According to the no nonsense Atwoli, Uhuru at the age of 60 years without any well defined government role will keep ‘disturbing’ those in power.
“We need to amend the Constitution,” Mr Atwoli told workers during Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Park in Nairobi.
He continued
“Let us use the Bomas Draft, because the problem we have now is exclusion. Not everyone can be president, (and so) the Constitution should be amended to accommodate more people.”
He also thought that the constitution should be expanded based on the fact that their are no senior most posts within the government.
On the 14 member list released by Uhuru and former PM Raila Odinga to spearhead peace, Atwoli thought the pact was meant to cushion the two over the post 2022 politics.
A close confidant of Deputy President William Ruto, Kipchumba Murkomen dismissed the claims from the trade union leader.
NASA co-principals Raila Odinga and Musalia Mudavadi did not comment on the Atwoli remarks despite the fact the spoke after the allegations were made on the same event.
These allegations though have come as a shock in the wake of handshake, they started way back before.
“People want Uhuru to go home at 60 yet Raila is trying to be president at 75. Where do you want Uhuru to go?” Jubilee Party vice-chairman David Murathe once made this statement in March 2018.
A draft known to be BOMAS draft, suggests that a post of a powerful Prime Minister be reintroduced with the capacity to hire and fire Ministers, while intern President remain with less or rather ceremonial powers.
If these allegations come to see the light, Deputy President William Ruto might be the highest casualty of the political ‘handshake’.
Twitter Feeds
https://twitter.com/atanasi_/status/991560574839508994
This Atwoli outburst is not by accident! The desperados of the change the constitution are squarely behind him. Kenyans must remember that in Burundi & Uganda this is how it started n before they knew it they were stuck with presidents for life! We must emphatically say NO! pic.twitter.com/Z97iGcf0QU
— Dr Boni Khalwale, CBS (@KBonimtetezi) May 2, 2018
Senior citizens like Atwoli must allow themselves to think beyond Odinga/Kenyatta age old family games and drama. You don't amend constitution to accomodate kingpins, try to imagine a new brand of Politics accommodated by the same Constitution.
— Benji Ndolo (@BenjiNdolo) May 2, 2018
Atwoli's justification for Uhuru's term extension is selfish snd misinformed. Obama is same age as Uhuru on his term end and clearly, he's having more life, making more legit money in retirement.
We must stop making presidency in Africa like a marriage that only death ends it. pic.twitter.com/szBFf5fPUM
— Kenya West (@KinyanBoy) May 2, 2018