Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has refuted claims that he wished Deputy President William Ruto death after insisting that he'll not be on the ballot in 2022.
So controversial were his remarks over the weekend in Lamu, that Ruto was prompted to issue a rebuttal by accusing the veteran trade unionist of believing in witchcraft.
“In this country right now, the contest is between two groups; those who believe in God and those who believe in witchcraft. When you hear someone saying that he has been told by witch-doctors that a certain person will be on the ballot and the other will not… it tells you a lot about where the country is right now,” Ruto told the congregation at the Salvation Army Citadel in Kakamega County on Sunday.
A section of MPs allied to Ruto has since asked DCI George Kinoti to investigate Atwoli, claiming that he could be aware of a plot to assassinate the Deputy President. They also blamed him for creating divisions among Kenyans.
But at Kitui on Wednesday, Atwoli dismissed claims that he'd wished Ruto death, adding that he's, however, certain that he will not make it to the ballot after constitutional changes.
“While I was in Lamu, I did not say that Ruto will die, no, but I said the referendum is coming and that there will be six slots, mark my words, Kalonzo Musyoka will be among the six but Ruto’s name will not be there,” he said.
While Ruto has expressed reservations for the urge to change the constitution, Atwoli has already preempted that the referendum will take place 'whether he likes it or not'. He also says that the parliamentary system would be introduced.
The DP has intensified campaigns ahead of 2022 presidential elections and has often accused unnamed people of allegedly orchestrating his downfall in the pretext of the fight against corruption.