Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has been defended by the Vice Chairman of the Council of Luhya elders in Trans Nzoia County after past claims from a section of the leaders in the county that he had interfered with Ford Kenya party.
The Vice Chairman of the Luhya council of elders in Trans Nzoia County Christopher Makokha has defended claims of bribery allegations made by a section of leaders from Trans Nzoia County who admitted they were funded by secretary general Atwoli to destabilize Ford Kenya party and its leadership.
Last week Transnzoia county youth leader in Ford Kenya party Ben Wanjala Mlipuko together with other leaders admitted to have visited Atwolis Home In Kakamega last year December 26th and were given some cash in efforts to destabilize Ford Kenya party in the region and country as a whole
Mlipuko said Atwoli had promised them some goodies in return if they make the deal complete by ensuring the party disintegrates, disclosing that Atwoli was rooting for Musalia Mudavadi to hold the position as the defacto leader of the Luhya community.
Makokha has termed Mlipuko’s statement unacceptable and aimed at tarnishing Atwoli’s reputation within the Luhya community.
He said Mlipuko is a youth who still has a long way to go, and the division he is causing in the Luhya nation is worrying and he urged him to respect the elders.
The vice chairman said Atwoli is a man who should be respected, especially by the youth who are making a mockery of him by making up lies about him.
He said Atwoli has been on the forefront advocating for Luhya unity, as opposed to others who want to do the contrary.
However, Mlipuko defended his criticisms against Atwoli, saying the main intention of their meeting was not addressed, insisting that what was discussed entailed bringing discord to Ford Kenya party.
He said he was not opposed to leaders bringing together Luhya people but was opposed to the devious methods of weakening other leaders in the Mulembe nation by organizing a rift in the party with the intention of making party leader Moses Wetangula irrelevant.