Editor's Review

This funeral belongs to COTU. I'm the one who will invite him later - Atwoli grabbed the microphone from the Senator. 

Western Kenya was on Saturday, September 2, grounds for high octane politics as rivaling national leaders shared platforms.

In Vihiga county, Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) secretary general Francis Atwoli met with Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga for the first time in a long while. 

They were gracing the burial of former COTU chair Rajab Mwondi.

Atwoli caused a scene when he left his seat to grab the microphone from Vihiga senator Godfrey Osotsi who had invited the county's deputy governor Wilberforce Kitiezo to speak. 

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Vihiga senator Godfrey Osotsi.

The veteran trade unionist sought to have Raila allowed to speak as he was to fly to Busia to attend another funeral.

Atwoli who wanted to run the program faulted Osotsi for skipping protocol.

"This funeral belongs to COTU. I'm the one who will invite Kitiezo later. Call your own meeting and preside over it. I want to allow Raila to speak because he is going to Busia," said Atwoli.

Osotsi was forced to leave the podium amid cheers from the audience infront of him.

In his address to mourners, Raila launched tirades against Atwoli who he accused of abandoning workers to align with the government.

In Busia, DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa took on Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi for dismissing the chances of a leader from Western Kenya unseating President William Ruto in 2027.

Mudavadi is on record taking pride in Ruto's ability to retain power in the oncoming vote stating that no one would challenge him.

However, during a funeral they were both in attendance, Eugene blasted the former ANC leader for opting to play second fiddle to the president, yet he also got the capacity to challenge him in the same seat.

"I want to differ with Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang'ula. They say that President Ruto is a political giant and is unbeatable, so we should not challenge him. We are not ready to wait until Ruto is done. If they fear the so-called giant, they should get out of the way. 

"They should leave to us Ruto and get out of the way. We will face off with him in 2027. Western Kenya is also capable of producing a leader," said Eugene.