Speaking exclusively to KTN News, on Monday 24th December 2018, Atwoli said majority of Kenyan leaders including President Uhuru Kenyatta are pushing for a more inclusive government that requires constitutional amendments that can be approved through a referendum.
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has dared Deputy President William Ruto to walk out of Government if he does not support the proposed constitutional amendments through a referendum.
In a tour of Western Kenya on Sunday, December 23, Ruto made an about turn on his support for the plebiscite saying together with majority Kenyans he was not a fool to support a referendum bent on creating positions for few leaders.
“Ruto shouldn’t have gone to the extent of referring to proponents of the plebiscite as fools. The proposal for Constitution change in fact came from me. We must revisit the law especially on governance issues and eliminate winner takes it all status,” he said.
He said Ruto should have reserved his comments which portrayed Uhuru and Opposition leader Raila Odinga among fools because of their goodwill to support referendum endorsed by majority Kenyans through Building Bridges Initiative.
“It’s too early for Ruto to call us fools. As the serving deputy president he should walk out of government over the remarks or boldly enough form a firm camp to oppose the referendum when it comes. It’s not a matter of if a referendum will be there but a matter of when,” Atwoli stated.
The unionist who has been in the recent past championing for Luhya unity poured cold water on Ruto’s sustained visits of Western Kenya to gather support for his presidential ambition saying it was a waste of time.
He told Ruto to watch out as his prediction of Kenya having new Constitution before 2022 comes to pass as many of his proposals had done before.
Atwoli has advised Ruto to form his own team to oppose the proposed referendum and Kenyans will decide whether to pass it or not.