Atwoli Admits William Ruto Outsmarted Azimio: ‘Mzoee Hiyo Sauti’

By Kevin Koech

Posted on 9 September 2022

COTU boss Francis Atwoli and President-elect William Ruto PHOTO/COURTESY

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli has accepted President-elect William Ruto’s win.

Atwoli was rooting for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance flag bearer Raila Odinga in the August 9 General Elections.

Speaking on Friday, September 9, the COTU boss acknowledged Ruto’s win, admitting that he outsmarted the Azimio team.

Atwoli said Ruto had a more better campaign strategy than Azimio which he said was focused on old political strategy tactics.

“I had told Kenyans to get used to the voice of Raila as their president but I never knew that I would come back and tell people to get used to the voice of Ruto. Can’t you see that is the work of God?

“We went to sleep thinking that we had won. We were politicking in the old way and people would shout at us and we thought that they were with us. On the other hand, Ruto had the political skills and he outsmarted us,” Atwoli said.

As such, Atwoli advised Raila’s supporters to embrace the change and accept Ruto as the dully elected Head of State.

“Right now, the father of the nation is Ruto and we must accept him so that the country can be successful and peaceful

“You can see that he walked with our brothers like Wetangula and he will help our people. That is the work of God and we must accept it. Even in the Trade Union, we have congratulated him,” the COTU boss added.

President-elect William Ruto has political skills and he has outsmarted us in Azimio. We must accept his victory as we move the country forward peacefully – Francis Atwoli – COTU S.G. #KenyasChoice2022 pic.twitter.com/c1suO339ze

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) September 9, 2022

This came days after Atwoli spoke after the Supreme Court of Kenya upheld President-elect William Ruto’s win.

Atwoli was among leaders who campaigned against Ruto ahead of the August 9 General Elections.

One of the COTU boss’ popular mockery of Ruto was that he would take his life after losing the presidential election to Azimio la Umoja flag bearer, Raila Odinga.

However, in an interview moments after Ruto’s win was upheld, Atwoli argued that the statement was just a political statement.

“What I said about Ruto was in the context of competition, and was within my constitutional rights. This is the freedom our people died for,” Atwoli said.

Atwoli also defended himself against remarks that he made indicating that Ruto will never be president, urging Kenyans to give him support that he needs to run the country.

“William Ruto is an articulate politician. I had foreseen him becoming the President of Kenya; I did not say he couldn’t be a president

“I am urging all Kenyans to rally behind him, give him an opportunity to form his government and support him,” said the COTU boss.