COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli set tongues wagging after footage of him speaking at a funeral in Embu went viral on social media, with fans and critics alike latching on to his surprisingly personal revelations.
Speaking at what appeared to be an indoor church or community gathering, Atwoli used his address to champion inter-ethnic unity, and he did not shy away from making it personal.
The veteran trade unionist, who is Luhya, disclosed that five of his 19 children have married Kikuyu women. He named the regions they come from, including Nakuru, Kiambu, and Nyeri, adding that his youngest son’s wife is a doctor from Nyeri.
“Mimi kwa watoto wangu kuminatisa, watoto tano wemeewa wasichano wakikuyu kwa boma yangu,” Atwoli said, drawing audible laughter from the audience.
Francis Atwoli takes aim at regional division talk
Beyond his family disclosures, Atwoli also used the platform to push back against calls to split the Mount Kenya region into separate political blocs.
He argued that such divisions only breed hostility and undermine the unity that communities have built through shared lives and intermarriage.
He also praised the story of a family in the audience whose daughter had married a man from Kajiado, with the family even giving their son-in-law land.
Atwoli held this up as the kind of Kenya he wants to see, saying, “That is the country we want.”
The speech, shared by Embu News Press on TikTok, quickly gained traction for its humour and directness.
Watch the video below:
@embu.news.press.1♬ original sound – Embu news press 1
Kenyans react to Atwoli’s candid speech
The clip drew quick and varied reactions online, with many amused by Atwoli’s forthrightness and others weighing in on the underlying political message.
@GLOBAL said:
“Talk to Ruku directly.”
@soloh thee egg said:
“Mlima ilipasuka.”
@kibbskaries said:
“Mungu akubariki mhesh.”
@Embu Rich Man said:
“Excuse me..etiii watoto wangapi?”
@john wanyiri said:
“At least he is acknowledging all his children.”
