Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has challenged Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s ambitions for the presidency, arguing that the one-term legislator needs to gain more political experience before seeking Kenya’s top office.
Speaking during an appearance on Citizen TV’s Sunday Live on Sunday, September 20, Atwoli said Sifuna should first go through the political stages he believes are necessary for someone seeking the presidency.
Atwoli argued that presidential leadership requires more than public popularity, saying aspiring leaders should understand the economy and the challenges facing ordinary Kenyans before seeking the country’s highest office.
“Sifuna, one-term Senator you want to become a president? Not in Africa, we must detain you, we must make you go through stages. You must suffer looking for leadership. You must know how economy is crafted. You must be able to understand the problems Kenyans are having,” Atwoli said.
The veteran trade unionist further cited personal and community responsibilities as part of the experience he believes political leaders should acquire before pursuing the presidency.
“You must pay school fees for your children. You must raise money for other people. You must build churches, you must do what we have done. For now no. Capital N-O!” he added.
Atwoli also questioned whether the support Sifuna has received through the Linda Mwananchi movement would be sufficient to sustain a presidential campaign across the country.
He said a serious presidential campaign requires extensive backing from different sectors, including county governments, the business community and established political networks.
“It requires massive support. The massive support from all county governors, in this country, business communities, and Raila had networks, and we still lost,” Atwoli said.
He went on to compare Sifuna’s current political base with previous presidential aspirants who had built significant national networks but failed to secure the presidency.
“And Sifuna is not even a quarter of those people who have tried to aspire, serious ones,” Atwoli added.
Sifuna has increasingly positioned himself for a possible presidential contest ahead of the 2027 General Election through the Linda Mwananchi movement.
He has said the movement is consulting supporters across the country before making decisions on its presidential candidate.
In July, Sifuna said he would not reject a presidential bid if Kenyans collectively asked him to run, while stressing that the decision would be made through consultations rather than unilaterally.
Atwoli’s latest remarks therefore place him at odds with the growing momentum around Sifuna’s possible State House bid, as political formations continue positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.