Atwoli meets Mudavadi to discuss elusive Luhya political unity
Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli on Thursday, June 22, 2023, paid a courtesy call to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi as he continues to warm up to the Kenya Kwanza administration.
In a tweet, the outspoken trade unionist said he met the former Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader on the 10th floor of the Treasury Building in Nairobi, where they discussed various issues of mutual interest including government initiatives aimed towards job creation and harmonious industrial and labour relations.
Atwoli also revealed that their talks touched on the elusive Luhya political unity.
"I paid a courtesy call to the Prime Cabinet Secretary Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, at the 10th floor of Treasury Building. We discussed various issues of mutual interest including government initiatives aimed towards job creation and harmonious industrial and labour relations and political cohesiveness in Western Kenya," Atwoli said.
I paid a courtesy call to the Prime Cabinet Secretary Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, at the 10th floor of Treasury Building . We discussed various issues of mutual interest including government initiatives aimed towards job creation and harmonious industrial and labour relations and… pic.twitter.com/3QxuhUuSeb
— Francis Atwoli NOM (DZA), CBS, EBS, MBS. (@AtwoliDza) June 22, 2023
Atwoli has been at the forefront in advocating for political unity in the deeply divided Western region.
In the last election, the two leaders were in different political camps with the COTU boss supporting Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga's fifth stab at the presidency.
He rallied members of the populous community to vote for Raila as a bloc in the last general election.
He, however, swiftly switched allegiance to President William Ruto after Raila narrowly lost to the Kenya Kwanza candidate, joining Mudavadi who defected to the President's camp just months before the August 2022 polls.
Atwoli pledged to work with Ruto to fulfil his campaign manifesto even as other Azimio honchos claimed Raila was rigged out.
On the other hand, Mudavadi has also been on the front line in condemning infighting among the leadership of the Luhya community, which political pundits claim continues to deny the region the country's top seat, the presidency.
In November last year, the Prime CS hosted a breakfast meeting bringing together 35 elected MPs from across the political divide in the Western region, in what was seen as an attempt to consolidate his backyard to fight for space in the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Meanwhile, Atwoli's dalliance with Ruto's administration seems to be bearing fruits.
Yesterday, the Head of State appointed the trade unionist among a seven-member panel to spearhead the process of selecting the new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Ruto tasked the committee with leading the vetting process of the nominees seeking to succeed Noordin Haji, who was recently picked to head the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Other members of the panel are Mary Kimonye (Principal Administrative Secretary, State Department for Public Service), Shadrack Mose (Solicitor General), Mary Adhiambo (Secretary – HRM and Development, State Department for Public Service), Roseline Odede (Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights) and Richard Obwocha.
