By JEFF OTIENO
Flamboyant Central organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli is headed for historic victory once again in the forth coming elections slated for 21st May 2011.
The combative and non nonsense secretary General will be going for his third term after he took the mantle for the first time in 2001. During last polls in 2006 the pragmatic Atwoli known for his valour and mobilization antics triumphed in his second term unopposed in what many of his admirers attributed to his sterling and unrivalled track record compared to some of his predecessors.
Speaking to the press on telephone Atwoli said his is politics without rhetoric and chest thumping but to strive to salvage the down trodden Kenyan worker who is shackled in bondage of poverty and York of oppression from the brutal establishment.
His die hard and admirer who is also a trade unionist Ismael Noo also showered Atwoli with accolades saying that the revival of Tom Mboya Labour which was almost becoming moribund as a case in point.
The team has currently embarked on building a multimillion (450m) resource centre and is nearing completion.
According to Ismael Noo who is the chairman of the board and an affiliate of communication workers union the new outfit has got a conference facility capable of accommodating 1,000 people and over 100 rooms including 6 presidential suites.
Over 150 delegates drawn from bodies affiliated to COTU are expected to attend and participate in the polls to be held in Tom Mboya Labour College.
Over 58 international dignitaries have been invited to attend the function. Among them President and General Secretary of all Chinese Federation of workers, Chief guest Director General I.L.O, presidents of workers from U.S.A, Germany, Nigeria and Local dignitaries.
“All the arrangements for the occasion have been finalized”, said Atwoli.
Although his admirers argue he’s a humble, caring and generous man nowander he’s at the helm, but some of his critics say he’s living a luxurious life spinning state of the art vehicles yet Kenyan workers are suffering.
In defense Atwoli said,” How can you negotiate on behalf of the oppressed yet as an advocate you’re also hungry and marooned in tatters.” He continued, “No regime can listen to a desperate frail looking man world over,” he concluded during an interview.
Some of his rivals both in the government and private sector have tried in futility to back journalist Erick Orina for the seat to topple him but their move flopped when the scribe who is a green horn in Union politics ran out of steam and has embarked on blame games against his backers that they dint do enough to propel him to glory.
Atwoli will leave a legacy for having also agitated relentlessly for Kenyans during the quest for a new constitution. “ Even during implementation of the constitution Atwoli should be included based on his records,” Noo said.
END