Whenever Francis Atwoli erupts on television screens or in the many rallies he holds, he makes an instant impression. His fiery moves, bubbly speeches, striking royal purple shirts, and rumbles of laughter that shake his entire frame have become defining characteristics of a trade unionist.
He has positioned himself as a man of superior wisdom to whom politicians, mostly from the Luhya community, should humbly turn for guidance.
“We had a meeting in 2013 where more than 50 Luhya politicians asked me to lead them. That is why I have been very vocal,” he says.
Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali scoffs and says he does not remember such a meeting. Neither does he recall any Luhya leader telling them that Atwoli had been appointed the opinion leader of the community.
“Nobody gave him the mandate of choosing the spokesman of the Luhya community. He says he did a survey on what Luhyas want yet he is the one who commissioned the research.” says Washiali.
Atwoli, the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary-General, says he has been communicating about politics for a long time, and his recent utterances on BBI agenda in Kakamega is nothing new. He also says since 2014, he has made known his sentiments on the country’s leadership.
“I talk about things people are afraid of talking about. I was also the first one to talk about the need for a referendum even before BBI took off,” he says.
Flashy, fierce and fearless are some of the words that have been used to define him. He talks about anything under the sun, but there is one thing he rarely mentions: the loss he got when he vied for Butere parliamentary seat.
“If Atwoli is so powerful, why does he have to endorse a leader? Why can’t he show his might and vie?” says Farel Onyiso, a youth leader in Butere. The other thing he gets impatient about is being asked when he will retire. He has been the Cotu secretary-general for close to two decades, the longest-serving in the position.