Atwoli needs self respect and decorum before public

NAIROBI, KENYA: Condescending, fawning and embarrassing – in the extreme. That was Central Organisation of Trade Union (Cotu) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli. The occasion was Labour Day, on Wednesday. Someone must urgently tell Mr Atwoli that there is such a thing as decorum of office and sense of occasion.

There are things you just don’t do. It’s worse if you do them in front of the Head of State at a public event. It does not matter how gifted you may be with overflow of adrenaline. You could almost hear the thoughts of the assembled dignitaries as they stared at Mr Atwoli in utter disbelief, “What is wrong with this gentleman?” Yet I have often wondered whether there could be occasions when the gentleman tag does not hold. If we should behold someone passing warm water on Kenyatta Avenue at midday, for example, would it be in order to say, “Hey, look! What is that gentleman doing?”