Former Kakamega Senator Dr Boni Khalwale is optimistic Deputy President William Ruto will win the presidency in the 2022 general election.
Khalwale dismissed remarks by Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli that Ruto's bid was doomed to fail, saying the DP was on course in succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He said those campaigning against Ruto were just 'wasting time' and asked the COTU boss to leave the DP alone and focus on uplifting workers' welfare.
"I can assure you that the DP will win the seat because he is with the people and those who are going round to oppose him are simply wasting their time because he has already made inroads. Let Atwoli concentrate on issues relating to workers and leave politics to politicians," Khalwale said as quoted by People Daily, Monday.
Speaking at Bukhwala Seventh Day Adventist Church in Khwisero Constituency on Saturday, Atwoli said the DP will not become the next president despite campaigning hard by donating millions in church functions.
“I want to tell Ruto that he has no place in the next government. He should stop running around in churches and dishing out huge donations,” he said as quoted by Daily Nation.
The veteran trade unionist further accused Ruto of causing divisions among members of the Luhya community by 'buying' some politicians from the area.
“If the deputy president thinks he can win the support of the Luhya community by frequenting western region to attend church functions and making donations, he is mistaken. Some of our leaders have become cheap and are busy chasing handouts,” Atwoli noted.