Alego Usonga lawmaker Samuel Atandi has thrown his weight behind COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli after his recent anti-Deputy President William Ruto remarks.

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Speaking in Mombasa over the weekend, the trade unionist poured cold water on Ruto's 2022 presidential bid, terming it a fallacy and claiming that Ruto will not participate in the race at all.

Speaking on Monday, Atandi backed the remarks, terming Atwoli as a statesman and an experienced leader whose remarks should be taken very seriously.

"He is very right, I support him. Kwangu yeye ni statesman (to me he is a statesman) with national accolades na akiongea lazima askizwe (his utterances should be taken seriously)," Atandi advised.

He was speaking on Radio Maisha's Bunge La Maisha on Monday morning.

He cautioned the DP to ignore the statement at his own peril, advising him to instead swallow his pride and approach Atwoli for a way out.

He also bashed the DP for instead allegedly dispatching his footsoldiers to bash the trade unionist, as was seen immediately after Atwoli's remarks.

"Ruto should actually humble himself and consult him, sio kutuma vijana hapa na pale na kuwapa pesa wamtusi (not deploying his paid youth followers to insult him)," he added.

Atandi, a staunch supporter of opposition leader and Ruto's leading rival Raila Odinga said that the DP is indeed not fit to run for the presidency.

He based this on the many corruption allegations heaped on the DP.

Atwoli, in his rant, also fired shots at former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, terming him a perrenial beggar who will never realize his Kakamega gubernatorial ambitions.

Among leaders who have since lashed back at Atwoli include former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa and Garissa Township MP Aden Duale.