President Uhuru Kenyatta has on several occasions denied that he is not interested in any political seat nor position after his term comes to an end in 2022. This follows speculations that there have been plans to create him a position after 2022 since it is argued that he is too young to retire from active politics.
Among people who have been insisting for Uhuru to remain in government after 2022 Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli who has reiterated his call for President Kenyatta to stay on after his term lapses.
The unionist, who argues that the same will be possible if the Constitution is amended to expand the Executive, said he will not relent in the push.
Atwoli told the Building Bridges team during a public hearing that the amendment to the Constitution will help end perennial post-election rows.
“People said I was not a normal person when I asked the President not to resign after 2022 as he is young. And if the people of Central want him, he can be a government which can accommodate him.”
He said the 2013 post-election row could have been avoided if the Constitution did not allow for a ‘winner takes it all’ situation.
Atwoli, holding that he came up with the push for a referendum “before it was hijacked by politicians”, proposes the creation of six Executive positions “so that everyone will be happy”.
He told the Bridges team that the slots will include big communities who feel left out in government.
“Let’s not have the system of a winner takes it all. Let people know how to share,” Atwoli said.
On the 2007-08 post-violence, he said Cotu had appealed to the government for national unity.
He said egoism between top leaders hindered the efforts which forced international intervention.
“How do you compromise with a person who steals your cow and enjoys the milk while you are watching, the former prime minister Raila Odinga advisor asked us,” Atwoli said.
On last year’s election which led to the Handshake, Atwoli said that they met the IEBC team led by Wafula Chebukati on May 15, 2017.
He said that despite giving them the history of the elections and how to mitigate against another dispute, they ignored them.
“Any election in this country will never succeed unless we look at the documents that govern elections,” Atwoli said.
“Let’s make the document complement our culture, tradition and behaviour in order to have the election succeed.”
On leadership integrity, he said Chapter 6 of the Constitution has been watered down.
Do you support Atwoli’s idea of having Uhuru stay in the government after his term comes to an end in 2022?