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“If He Didn’t Make Raila…” Atwoli Doubts Uhuru Can Deliver Presidency for Matiang’i

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has poured cold water on former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ability to propel former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to State House. Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive, Atwoli questioned Uhuru’s political clout citing his failure to deliver the presidency for Raila Odinga in the 2022 General Election. He argued that Uhuru’s behind-the-scenes approach during the 2022 campaign created uncertainty within Raila Odinga’s political machinery, ultimately weakening the Azimio bid. “Uhuru appeared to be supporting Baba, but at no point did he convene a meeting with the people who were on the frontline campaigning for Raila. Maybe he was meeting Baba, with about two or three people. But openly, he neither came out to see the brigade supporting Raila nor gave us a sense of direction,” Atwoli said. Atwoli insisted that the absence of clear leadership and coordination left key campaign operatives in the dark, fuelling confusion at a critical time in the presidential race. “This is what Junet was explaining. You couldn’t know what was happening. Baba was an honest man; he couldn’t have received the money and not paid the agents,” he added. The outspoken trade unionist cast doubt on Uhuru’s reported endorsement of Fred Matiang’i as a future presidential contender, warning that political goodwill without grassroots influence is unlikely to translate into electoral victory. “I now hear he is saying he wants Matiang’i to be President. If Matiang’i is not careful with his own moves, Uhuru will not make him the President. If he didn’t make Raila, how can he make Matiang’i to be a president?” Atwoli posed. He went on to question Uhuru’s electoral strength even at the local level. “Even in his constituency, if he couldn’t get an MCA of Jubilee or MP?” According to Atwoli, while Uhuru Kenyatta may have genuinely wanted Raila Odinga to succeed him, he lacked the political muscle to marshal votes and command loyalty across the country. “He might have wished Raila to be president, but he didn’t have the ability to make him president; wishing and having the ability are different,” he said. Shifting focus to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Atwoli dismissed claims that the party is facing political extinction following Raila Odinga’s exit from active frontline politics. He maintained that ODM still has room to reorganize and regain stability. “It is not the end of the road for ODM. They can still salvage ODM. ODM, in the absence of Raila Odinga, they have got to undergo all those teething problems until when they will reach somewhere and settle,” he said. Atwoli also expressed confidence in the current ODM leadership, noting that the party remains under steady stewardship. “I think to me, ODM is in the right hands with Oburu (Oginga) at the helm.” The COTU secretary-general observed that the internal tensions currently rocking ODM would likely have been less pronounced if Raila Odinga were still actively leading the party, arguing that Raila’s presence historically acted as a unifying force. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Telegram

admin Published: January 9, 2026 | Updated: January 9, 2026 3 minutes read

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive, Atwoli questioned Uhuru’s political clout citing his failure to deliver the presidency for Raila Odinga in the 2022 General Election. He argued that Uhuru’s behind-the-scenes approach during the 2022 campaign created uncertainty within Raila Odinga’s political machinery, ultimately weakening the Azimio bid.

“Uhuru appeared to be supporting Baba, but at no point did he convene a meeting with the people who were on the frontline campaigning for Raila. Maybe he was meeting Baba, with about two or three people. But openly, he neither came out to see the brigade supporting Raila nor gave us a sense of direction,” Atwoli said.

Atwoli insisted that the absence of clear leadership and coordination left key campaign operatives in the dark, fuelling confusion at a critical time in the presidential race.

“This is what Junet was explaining. You couldn’t know what was happening. Baba was an honest man; he couldn’t have received the money and not paid the agents,” he added.

The outspoken trade unionist cast doubt on Uhuru’s reported endorsement of Fred Matiang’i as a future presidential contender, warning that political goodwill without grassroots influence is unlikely to translate into electoral victory.

“I now hear he is saying he wants Matiang’i to be President. If Matiang’i is not careful with his own moves, Uhuru will not make him the President. If he didn’t make Raila, how can he make Matiang’i to be a president?” Atwoli posed.

He went on to question Uhuru’s electoral strength even at the local level.

“Even in his constituency, if he couldn’t get an MCA of Jubilee or MP?”

According to Atwoli, while Uhuru Kenyatta may have genuinely wanted Raila Odinga to succeed him, he lacked the political muscle to marshal votes and command loyalty across the country.

“He might have wished Raila to be president, but he didn’t have the ability to make him president; wishing and having the ability are different,” he said.

Shifting focus to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Atwoli dismissed claims that the party is facing political extinction following Raila Odinga’s exit from active frontline politics. He maintained that ODM still has room to reorganize and regain stability.

“It is not the end of the road for ODM. They can still salvage ODM. ODM, in the absence of Raila Odinga, they have got to undergo all those teething problems until when they will reach somewhere and settle,” he said.

Atwoli also expressed confidence in the current ODM leadership, noting that the party remains under steady stewardship.

“I think to me, ODM is in the right hands with Oburu (Oginga) at the helm.”

The COTU secretary-general observed that the internal tensions currently rocking ODM would likely have been less pronounced if Raila Odinga were still actively leading the party, arguing that Raila’s presence historically acted as a unifying force.