Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has responded to Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua's criticism of his appearances on Citizen TV's Jeff Koinange Live (JKL) show. Gachagua had questioned Atwoli's relevance to modern political discourse, arguing that media outlets should stop featuring him. Atwoli fired back, accusing Gachagua of obsessively dropping his name to maintain political visibility.
Gachagua made the remarks during an address to a Kenyan diaspora gathering in Texas, where he criticized the JKL show for hosting Atwoli. He argued that Atwoli had nothing to offer to the current generation, saying that the veteran labor leader should be telling stories to his great-grandchildren instead of participating in national conversations. Gachagua's comments sparked a swift rebuttal from Atwoli, who pointed to his enduring public influence and selective media engagements.
Atwoli contrasted his limited media appearances with Gachagua's frequent public appearances over recent months. According to Atwoli, Gachagua has granted over 200 interviews to various media outlets, while he himself has done only two. Despite this, Atwoli's recent JKL appearance gathered nearly 300,000 views within four days, while a Citizen TV interview Gachagua gave two years ago accumulated around 400,000 views.
Atwoli also took aim at Gachagua's geographical accuracy regarding his rural home in Kakamega County. Atwoli clarified that he comes from Kisa Central, in the Khwisero constituency of Kakamega County, not Kisa North as Gachagua claimed. The union leader advised Gachagua to improve his geographical knowledge and concentrate on perfecting his golf swing in the US.
Atwoli concluded his response with a sharp critique of Gachagua's temperament, saying that the former Deputy President harbors hate and cannot be an advisor to anyone. Atwoli's response highlights the ongoing tensions between the two leaders, with Gachagua seeking to diminish Atwoli's influence and Atwoli pushing back against the criticism.
The exchange between Atwoli and Gachagua has sparked a wider conversation about the role of veteran leaders in modern Kenyan politics. Atwoli's use of social media and YouTube metrics to reinforce his points also underscores the changing nature of political communication in Kenya. As the country prepares for future elections, the debate over who should be leading the conversation is likely to continue.
The criticism and counter-criticism also raise questions about the media's role in shaping public opinion and influencing political discourse. Atwoli's appearances on the JKL show and his use of social media to respond to Gachagua suggest that traditional media platforms remain important for Kenyan leaders seeking to reach a wider audience.
Key points
- Atwoli accuses Gachagua of obsessively dropping his name to maintain political visibility
- Gachagua had criticized Atwoli's appearances on Citizen TV's JKL show, questioning his relevance to modern political discourse
- Atwoli and Gachagua have been engaged in a public spat over the former Deputy President's comments
