Atwoli criticises Raila over stand on Ruto’s 2027 re-election
By Kenneth Mwenda, October 4, 2025COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has criticised ODM leader Raila Odinga over his stand on President William Ruto’s chances of seeking a second term in 2027.
Speaking at the Nyang’ori PAG Church Centenary in Vihiga County on Saturday, October 4, 2025, Atwoli urged leaders allied to the broad-based government not to backtrack on supporting Ruto when the next general election comes.
Atwoli declared that it would be unfair to enjoy the benefits of the broad-based administration and later deny Ruto another chance in office. He noted that development projects had already reached Nyanza as a result of the political cooperation and insisted that such progress must be safeguarded through continuity.
“Mimi chama changu ni KANU. Na ndugu zetu wale wengine ambao wametusaidia, chama kinachoongozwa na ….yangu chama cha ODM. Kuform ile broad-based government. Saa hizi kuna maendeleo makubwa kule Nyanza. Kwa ajili ya broad-based. Vyeo tumepata. Your Excellency uwezi kutufanyia mambo mazuri alafu tulete siasa ingine ati tutafikiria tukifika 2027. Ukifanyia mtu kitu kizuri, ni lazima pia huwe mtu committed ya kwamba sisi tukifika 2027, tutakupropel for another five years,” Atwoli said.
The veteran trade unionist stressed that Ruto should not be distracted by questions over his re-election prospects, pointing out that every president before him had completed two terms.
“We had all our presidents finish their constitutional terms. You will not be different. Mambo ya two-term isikisumbue, it has become our tradition and part of our culture that we must respect whoever has been elected to finish his two terms, so let that not bother you,” he added.
ODM autonomy
His remarks came weeks after Raila dismissed claims that ODM would not field a candidate in 2027. Speaking in Machakos on September 22, Raila told his party members not to make commitments that had not been discussed or agreed upon.
“So, wherever you are, don’t commit the party to some things which have not been discussed. We are ODM. Who has told you that ODM will not have a candidate in 2027?” Raila posed during an ODM Parliamentary Group meeting.
The ODM leader explained that the pact with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) was only meant to provide stability and address urgent national issues, not to bind ODM to future political choices. He insisted that party members would decide their direction when the time came.