Mudavadi hits out at Atwoli, labels him clown

ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi Sunday launched a blistering attack on Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) boss Francis Atwoli.

Mudavadi while launching his presidential bid branded Atwoli a clown, whom he alleged uses  the labour movement to enrich himself.

In a passionate speech outlining why he wants to be Kenya’s 5^th President, Mudavadi vowed to transform COTU to ensure it regains what he termed as a sense of purpose and respectability as the link between employers and employees.

“COTU will not be a clownish cowboy club that labours for a few individuals. Under my watch, the labour movement is going to regain its sense of purpose and respectability as the middle house between employers and their employees” he told a packed auditorium at Bomas of Kenya attended by a host of MPs and party leaders DP William Ruto Moses Wetangula and William Kabogo among others.

It was in the grand meeting that UDA and ANC agreed to work together ahead of the August elections.

Without naming him, Mudavadi left no doubt whom he was referring to as he said the labour movement had completely lost direction.

Atwoli who has positioned himself as Western Kenya spokesperson has consistently been supporting  Mudavadi’s political rival ODM’s party leader Raila Odinga who is gunning for the top seat on the Azimio La Umoja movement.

The ANC leader went ahead to question the source of Atwoli’s wealth. “COTU is hostage to clowns who openly boast of, and display, the trappings of massive opulence, whose sources remain smoky and mysterious”

“These CLOWNS have bastardized state institutions by weaponizing them for selfish ends” he added.

Mudavadi pledged to fight corruption and protect the independence of government institutions.

“We must fight political corruption by strengthening and protecting the independence of institutions of government, and of constitutional commissions and offices”.

The delegates have ratified his endorsement for the 2022 presidential race.