Jubilee Party is bound to fail: Atwoli
Cotu Secretary-General Francis Atwoli and other officials address mourners during the burial of former Nyakach MP Dennis Akumu in Koguta village, Nyakach, Kisumu County, on September 10, 2016. Mr Atwoli said that what the Jubilee Party has done is similar to what Kanu tried many years ago. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- He challenged the Jubilee leaders to concentrate on delivering the promises they made to Kenyans and not ride on projects initiated by the grand coalition government.
- The Cotu boss said it is the Western region, which has been looked down upon for years, that will decide the next president of Kenya.
Trade unionist Francis Atwoli on Saturday said that the newly-launched Jubilee Party will fail.
The Cotu (Central Organisation of Trade Unions) secretary-general said that the merger of the Jubilee affiliate parties came too early before the next General Election.
His sentiments were echoed by Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion.
Mr Atwoli said that what the Jubilee Party has done is similar to what Kanu tried many years ago.
“Mr Kenyatta is my friend but he should know that merging of parties will not work because we tried it together with retired President Daniel Moi, and it failed,” he said.
He spoke shortly after President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto launched the new party at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday.
The two trade unionists also cautioned politicians against early campaigns, saying they will hurt the economy, adding that the national government was wasting billions of shillings in political activities.
The duo also took a swipe at DP Ruto for failing to list what the government had done for workers in the last four years.
“It is too early to celebrate over merging of parties. If the activities continue, it is the common mwananchi who will suffer since the prices of basic commodities will shoot up,” Mr Atwoli said.
He challenged the Jubilee leaders to concentrate on delivering the promises they made to Kenyans and not ride on projects initiated by the grand coalition government.
The two, who were speaking during the burial of former Nyakach MP and Cotu Secretary-General Dennis Akumu in Nyakach, Kisumu County, threatened to mobilise their members to vote against Jubilee.
“We will sit down as workers and decide who to support in 2017 because we have the numbers and can change the political equation. This time we want leaders who have the interest of workers at heart,” said Mr Atwoli.
The Cotu boss said it is the Western region, which has been looked down upon for years, that will decide the next president of Kenya.
“We have suffered a lot in the hands of Jubilee. Is it today that the President and his Deputy have realised that the community is important? We will not allow them,” said Mr Atwoli.
