Atwoli Reacts After Estranged Wife Declares Support for Deputy President William Ruto

Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) secretary-general Francis Atwoli has reacted after his estranged wife declared support for Deputy President William Ruto.

Ruto officially welcomed Mama Roselinda Simiyu to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party during a rally in Bungoma on Friday.

She was among new members who joined Ruto’s ‘hustler movement’ and vowed to drum up support for the deputy president in the region ahead of the August 9th general elections.

"Mimi naitwa Mama Roselinda Simiyu Mzee wangu anaitwa Francis Atwoli.  Na niko ndani ndani ya hustler movement)," Roselinda said while addressing the rally.

Taking to social media, Atwoli disowned Roselinda, saying she is “no longer on the list of my relatives.”

"Roselinda was surrendered to William Ruto in 2007 in his Eldoret townhouse. She is no longer on the list of my relatives," Atwoli said through Twitter.

He added: "Ruto can now add her, free of charge, to his two recently acquired bearded wives to him have three wives from western. Western Kenya is in Azimio."

Atwoli, a veteran trade unionist, is a fierce critic of Ruto and has maintained the deputy president shall not be elected as Kenya's fifth president. He supports ODM leader Raila Odinga, who is seeking the presidency under the 'Azimio La Umoja' movement.