‘Support Ruto for national unity’ – COTU boss Atwoli tells Gachagua
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has urged Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to support President William Ruto amid fallout between the duo.
A rift between the two top United Democratic Movement (UDA) chiefs was witnessed on Sunday, June 30, 2024, when Gachagua claimed his kids did not want him to support the president in the 2022 general elections.
Recently, when the country was rocked by the Finance Bill protests, President Ruto addressed the nation before Gachagua organised his own presser in Mombasa.
Gachagua, while addressing the nation separately, attacked the Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Noordin Haji, in another instant that showed a probable widening rift within the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Atwoli, while addressing residents in Kitui on Sunday, June 30, 2024, said the two separate national addresses were not right and asked the DP to act quickly and support the president.
"The government must speak in one voice. If somebody is here and he can reach out to the Deputy President, amwambie let him act foolish na asupport his president for the total unity this country requires.
"We do not need to have two national press conferences, president amesema hii, deputy anaenda kusema yake. Whom do we believe?
"We only want one person to talk," Atwoli said. 
More criticism against Gachagua
Atwoli was accompanied by Wajir South Member of Parliament, Adow Mohammed, who also asked the DP to stop attacking government officials.
"Bwana Rigathi Gachagua, we are tired of your rhetoric; it is unbecoming of a Deputy President. Stop attacking government officials; stop agitating for the opinion of a few people," Mohammed said.
He asked Gachagua to stop agitating for regional unity because that would even further divide the country.
"We are all Kenyans; we need to develop as a country. One man, one shilling, one vote call will not augur well in many parts of this country," he added.
The former Mathira MP has been calling for political unity in Mount Kenya, and his clarion call has been one-man, one-vote, one-shilling, but this has always attracted criticism, especially from leaders outside the central region.
