'Your time is not now', Atwoli tells Sifuna over presidential ambitions

Speaking during the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Western Region Aspirants Engagement on Saturday, Atwoli acknowledged Sifuna as one of the young leaders making strides in national politics but urged him to focus on building his political team before pursuing the presidency.

"I recognise all our sons who are making strides in top leadership, the likes of Wetang'ula and Wycliffe Oparanya. Even if the time is not now, I'll say to you, the time is not now for Sifuna," Atwoli stated. 

"But we're recognising his introduction, he's trying to introduce himself. He's going to be there after us."

The COTU SG said he was being honest in telling the Nairobi Senator that he was not yet ready for the country's top job.

"I must be sincere and honest and tell him, his time is not now. Huwezi kuanza kuenda round kabla hujaprepare ile team unatembea nayo. Ata hamjafika quarter ya safari yenu, mwenzenu anasema anataka presidency. You can see how unprepared they are," Atwoli remarked. 

Atwoli, however, urged Sifuna to maintain cordial political relationships with his colleagues in ODM, saying political competition should not turn party members into enemies.

"I want to urge you to move closer and not make his brothers and sisters in ODM appear as if they are his enemies because all of you are in the same House. You can do friendly politics, open up friendly fire lakini mnabaki marafiki," he stated.

The COTU boss opined that he should have a meeting with the Linda Mwananchi brigade to share words of advice on political matters. 

"Ata tukipata session, kama mimi because I'm fairly independent, I might have a session na hao tukae na hao, tuone how they're doing. Alafu tutauliza statisticians wa Wycliffe to tell us in every constituency, who's leading and who's where," Atwoli stated.

At the same event, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi questioned whether opposition leaders seeking to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election had developed the grassroots structures required to mount a successful presidential campaign.

Mudavadi argued that building a political party with a national presence requires years of investment in structures and mobilisation.

"Raila ndio alikuwa opposition. Hawa watu wanatembea. Do they have the infrastructure that ODM has? Do they have polling station people?" Mudavadi posed. 

He maintained that it would be impossible to build a party with a national footprint less than a year before a General Election.

"You can't build a party with a national footprint in less than 11 months before the election. It's not going to work," Mudavadi stated.

"Unaenda kwa rally on a market day kupiga kelele tu, what structures have you left behind? You're not clear which party you are in, no political structures. How can you be swayed by such kind of people?"