I like what Sifuna is doing; Atwoli changes tune
Atwoli has said he likes the political activities of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and described him as one of the country’s future leaders.
Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has said he likes the political activities of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and described him as one of the country’s future leaders.
Speaking during an interview with local media stations on Sunday, September 20, 2026, Atwoli, who has previously been critical of Sifuna’s presidential ambitions, said the senator was doing what young politicians should do by marketing themselves.
“I like what Sifuna is doing as a young person. One day I told you I liked what Natembeya was doing. These are future leaders. They are trying to market themselves. Their time is not now,” Atwoli said.
Atwoli, however, questioned whether Sifuna, who is serving his first term as senator, had accumulated enough political experience to seek the presidency.
He compared Sifuna’s ambitions to those of a first-term Member of Parliament who, according to Atwoli, was already seeking to become governor of Embu County.
“You have not finished even one term, four years in Parliament. You want to become a governor? You are like Sifuna, a one-term senator. You want to become a president?” Atwoli posed.
The veteran trade unionist said aspiring leaders should go through different stages of leadership and gain experience before seeking the highest office in the country.
“We must make you go through stages. You must suffer looking for leadership. You must know how the economy is crafted. You must be able to understand the problems Kenyans are having,” he said.
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Asked whether he believed Sifuna was ready to become president, Atwoli responded: “For now, no.”
Atwoli, however, maintained that Sifuna remains a future leader whom he could support politically.
“He’s a future leader. Yes, I agree, and I can support him in any manner that he wants,” he said.
Atwoli also drew from his experience campaigning for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying presidential campaigns require extensive networks and resources.
He recalled travelling across the country in support of Odinga and said successful presidential campaigns require backing from governors, the business community and other influential political networks.
“Remember very well, I was in Azimio. I went throughout this republic for Raila Odinga. The tediousness, the running up and down looking for votes, the masses we saw—it requires massive support,” Atwoli said.
He argued that Sifuna currently lacks the political network that some previous presidential aspirants had built over many years.
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