President Uhuru Too Young to Retire from Politics, COTU Boss Francis Atwoli Says

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has endorsed plans to amend the Constitution to alter the country's leadership structure.

Speaking during Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Park grounds in Nairobi on Tuesday, the Cotu boss argued that President Kenyatta is too young to retire from politics when his second and final term ends in 2022.

He said the Constitution must be changed in order to accommodate President Uhuru in government come 2022. Uhuru will be 59 years at the end of his term.

“Let us amend this Constitution and adopt the Bomas draft to fight exclusion, realising that not all of us can be president. This will allow us to accommodate President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is very young. Otherwise where are we going to take him?” asked Atwoli.

“If we don’t amend this Constitution to accommodate all Kenyans, where will President Uhuru Kenyatta go after 2022, yet he is a young man? Ataenda kusumbua watu wengine (he will end up making others uncomfortable),” Atwoli added.

However, his call has attracted opposition from National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and leaders of Majority Aden Duale (National Assembly) and Kipchumba Murkomen (Senate).

“Constitutions are never made for an individual or community. If we go that way, we shall lose. Even if there is an amendment to the Constitution, let it be to strengthen governance institutions and for posterity. It is his opinion (Atwoli), but matters to do with law and the Constitution should be about institutions,” Muturi told The Standard at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where he had arrived after a week-long tour of the US.

“President Kenyatta has made it clear that he is happy to retire. If Atwoli is looking for jobs for some people, he should state so and stop using the President’s name,” Duale said.

“Atwoli’s suggestion is warped. Our focus is not how to create jobs for individuals but for millions of Kenyans. The President is well catered for and does not need any position created for him,” said Murkomen.

Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula said amendments should not aim at creating positions for individuals, but to benefit Kenyans.

“We must not amend the Constitution because we want to accommodate individuals but because we want the country to be run in a better way and the benefits to reach everybody,” said Wetang’ula.