COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli /FILECentral Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has dismissed the political significance of the Linda Mwananchi rally held at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi, describing it as a “passing cloud”.
Speaking during Citizen TV’s Sunday Live show on Sunday night, Atwoli said the large crowd witnessed at the September 13 rally should not be taken as an indication of the movement’s long-term political strength.
“What you saw in Jacaranda, those are passing clouds. Take it to the bank,” Atwoli said.
The rally brought together Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Siaya Governor James Orengo and other leaders associated with Linda Mwananchi.
The movement has been holding grassroots mobilisation activities as opposition leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Its Jacaranda rally attracted thousands of supporters, with the National Police Service later describing the gathering as orderly and conducted within the law.
Atwoli also reflected on the 2022 General Election, when President William Ruto defeated the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
He attributed Ruto’s victory to what he described as a highly constituted technical team that helped analyse political numbers and determine suitable strategies.
“Do you know why Ruto beat us in Azimio? He had a highly constituted technical bench,” Atwoli said.
He said the people working with Ruto in government had been involved in assessing political numbers and determining who was suitable for different positions.
“Those permanent secretaries you see everywhere, those people he brought in the civil service, don’t joke. Those are now busy calculating and seeing who is suited to be here, who is suited to be here,” he said.
Atwoli further described Ruto as a professional in his approach to politics and said the President was not relying on guesswork.
“Ruto is driven professionally, with a lot of professionalism in his work. He’s not doing guesswork,” he said.
Asked about Ruto’s possible running mate for the 2027 election, Atwoli said he could not speak on the President’s behalf but maintained that Ruto had numbers.
“So I cannot tell you that I can, I’m competent to speak on his behalf. But he has the numbers,” Atwoli said.
Atwoli was also asked whether the political equation could change in the months remaining before the next General Election.
He said the political landscape could change and pointed to a planned meeting in Bukhungu on December 26, saying he expected it to have implications for Western Kenya politics.
“Wait for my meeting, Bukhungu 3, December 26, wait for that meeting. What’s going to happen? We are going to close Western Kenya,” he said.
Atwoli’s remarks came days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also described Linda Mwananchi as a “passing cloud”, questioning its policy agenda.
Sifuna has meanwhile continued to mobilise supporters through Linda Mwananchi, with the movement presenting itself as part of wider opposition efforts ahead of the 2027 election.
