Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli claims Jubilee hardliners blocking dialogues over IEBC

Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli Francis pays his last respects to Mrs Felda Mwondi, wife to Cotu national chairperson Rajabu Mwondi during the requiem mass held at Kapchemugung primary school in Hamisi constituency, Vihiga County on June 11, 2016. He called on hardliners behind President Uhuru Kenyatta to allow for dialogue on IEBC. [PHOTOS: ERIC LUNGAI/STANDARD]

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has blamed hardliners behind President Uhuru Kenyatta for stalled dialogue over the electoral commission.

Mr Atwoli said although the president may be willing to engage in talks with CORD, his allies are not taking the issues at hand seriously.

“Kenya is bigger than politicians alone. Come together and hold constructive dialogue. There is nothing else. Where people’s egos supersede the wishes of the people, the country suffers,” he said.

He noted that international organisations like United Nations, European Union, International Labour Organisation and other agencies depend on arbitration, negotiation, and dialogue to work together.

“Only those three things unite us all in this world. Nothing else is superior. You can’t always put your ego ahead and say everything must be within the Constitution. Every Constitution is pegged on culture and tradition,” he said. Atwoli spoke at Kapchemugung Primary School, yesterday, during the requiem mass for Mrs Felda Mwondi, wife to Cotu national chairman Rajabu Mwondi.

Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga, Hamisi MP Charles Gimose among other dignitaries attended the burial.

Atwoli said Cotu also wants to be incorporated in the talks, adding that holding the same in Parliament will lock out stakeholders.

“It is true that if the current commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission conduct the next General Election, Kenya will not be Kenya again. That is the truth,” he said.

He observed if the country goes to the dogs, mothers, children and workers are the ones who will suffer, while politicians who are chest thumping now will board planes and run away.

Atwoli described some of the leaders proposed to spearhead IEBC talks as jokers who cannot resolve the stalemate.

“One of the biggest culture for Kenyans is politics. There is no way we can bar Musalia Mudavadi, Raila Odinga, Moses Wetang’ula or even Uhuru Kenyatta not to participate in politics, because we are following the Constitution,” he said.

He asked leaders to sit down like brothers and broker a deal to stem CORD protests over IEBC.

“Maybe even Raila has nothing so major he is contesting. If they are on the same table, he may even agree to what the Jubilee government is proposing,” he said.

Atwoli said that in 2008, during the post election violence, Cotu helped to break the impasse.