Francis Atwoli, a prominent Kenyan trade unionist, recently expressed his strong discontent with Moses Wetang’ula, the current Speaker of the National Assembly.
Atwoli has vowed to personally push Wetang’ula out of his position, asserting that there will be “no escape route” for him.
This declaration is rooted in the political rivalry between the two, which has its origins in Wetang’ula’s decision to align with President William Ruto during the 2022 elections.
Atwoli, a firm supporter of Raila Odinga, has never been shy about criticizing leaders who diverged from Odinga’s political path.
Atwoli has a history of making bold political predictions, and in the past, he had claimed that Wetang’ula’s decision to support Ruto would lead to his downfall.
Despite this, Wetang’ula successfully rose to the influential position of Speaker, demonstrating his resilience and proving some of Atwoli’s forecasts wrong.
Atwoli, however, has not backed down from his criticisms and continues to assert his influence, particularly in the Western Kenya region, where both leaders have significant political followings.
The rivalry between these two figures also reflects broader political dynamics within the Luhya community.
Despite Wetang’ula’s powerful position, Atwoli remains a key player, and his latest statements signal ongoing tensions.
It will be interesting to see how this conflict unfolds, as Atwoli’s determination to oust Wetang’ula could lead to significant political shifts in Kenya’s national assembly and Western Kenya politics.
