Francis Atwoli Hits Out at Gachagua Over His Appearance on Citizen TV

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) secretary general Francis Atwoli has hit back at Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua, telling him to stop dragging his name into the national conversation in a bid to remain politically relevant.

Atwoli's remarks came after Gachagua, speaking to Kenyans in Texas on Friday, September 25, took issue with Citizen TV's Jeff Koinange Live (JKL) for repeatedly inviting the veteran unionist onto the show, claiming Atwoli had nothing meaningful to contribute to discussions on running the country.

"I don't know why JKL keeps on inviting Atwoli. Sometimes these presenters really irritate Kenyans. Why would you want to call Atwoli to a studio and give him one hour? What can he tell Gen Zs? That is a fellow who should be near a fireplace with his great-grandchildren, telling them stories about ogres," Gachagua said.

He added that Atwoli should not feature anywhere in discussions on governance and vowed to confront Citizen TV executives over the matter, further asserting that the unionist was among the reasons the country was struggling.

"He should not be anywhere in the national conversation about how to run a country. When I find Citizen TV people, I will ask them if it's a case of lacking people to interview," Gachagua said.

Responding, Atwoli accused Gachagua of being fixated on him as a way of staying in the news, arguing that the DCP leader's constant references betrayed an awareness of his influence.

"Rigathi Gachagua should stop using my name to remain politically relevant because it appears to me that he has finally understood the reach and influence of myself, Francis Atwoli. This explains why every time he opens his mouth, it is Atwoli, Atwoli, Atwoli!" he said.

The COTU boss went on to contrast his own media appearances with Gachagua's, noting that his last sit-down with Koinange before the recent one was in early January, roughly eight months earlier.

He said that in the same period, Gachagua had granted well over 200 interviews across television, radio, YouTube and other social media platforms in what he described as an effort to stay politically afloat.

"In that same period, Gachagua, in his failed attempt to remain politically relevant, has granted over 200 interviews to every television station, radio station, YouTuber and social media platform that will have him. Around the same period, I have done only two, and somehow those two are enough to deny him sleep," Atwoli said.

He further pointed to viewership figures to make his case, claiming that a Citizen TV interview Gachagua gave two years ago had amassed only 400,000 views to date, while his own interview with Koinange, aired four days earlier, had already drawn about 300,000 views on YouTube.

"Someone please tell Riggy G to concentrate on perfecting his golf swing in the US. Perhaps he may discover that golf is his cup of tea, and not sleeping and dreaming about Atwoli," he said.

Atwoli also took issue with Gachagua's knowledge of his background, correcting claims that he hails from Kisa North.

"But even while he plays golf, he ought to know that he must improve his geographical knowledge so as to be a good golf player. Gachagua claims that I come from Kisa North, which is false. I come from Kisa Central, in the Khwisero constituency of Kakamega County," he said.

He closed with a pointed jab at Gachagua's standing as a political adviser, reiterating a position he had earlier voiced on the JKL show.

"Finally, as I said on JKL, Gachagua is a man who harbours hate, and anyone who harbours hate cannot be an advisor to anyone. So he can't claim to advise anyone. Shenzi sana!" Atwoli said.

Atwoli currently aligns with President William Ruto's side, pushing for his re-election in the 2027 general election.

Seventy-seven-year-old Atwoli has been at the helm of COTU since 2001, serving during the presidencies of the late Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta and now Ruto.