MY STORY

I prayed for riches as altar boy, now I'm blessed - Atwoli

Atwoli said his religious life shaped his success in life.

In Summary

•His glitzy lifestyle is characterised by a customized dress code blended with chunky expensive jewellery

•Musically, nobody ostensibly beats Atwoli's love for the Congolese Rhumba.

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli and Reverend Paul Kariuki join other workers to celebrate the workers thanks giving prayer day at St. Stephen ACK Church along Jogoo Road on April 24, 2022
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli and Reverend Paul Kariuki join other workers to celebrate the workers thanks giving prayer day at St. Stephen ACK Church along Jogoo Road on April 24, 2022
Image: MAGDALINE SAYA

Central Organisation of Trade Unions secretary general Francis Atwoli is a man who needs no introduction.

For decades, Atwoli has cut an image of a firebrand unionist and fearless political commentator who minces not his words.

His viral signature phrases such as "ala!" and "shenzi sana" have made him a household name in Kenya.

Atwoli is a lover of fine things in life. His glitzy lifestyle is characterised by a customized dress code blended with chunky expensive jewellery. 

Musically, no one ostensibly beats Atwoli's love for the Congolese Rhumba.

He has parted with a fortune just to have a first-hand experience of this genre of music numerous times.

His exquisite Ildamat home in Kajiado and Kilifi mansion speaks nothing short of opulence. The unionist also owns a big farm in Nakuru.

To Atwoli, all these are the fruits of hard work.

The vibrant unionist on Sunday joined other workers for workers' thanksgiving prayer day at St Stephen ACK along Jogoo Road

The day is marked annually ahead of Labour Day celebrations.

The occasion served as a perfect opportunity for Atwoli to give a reflection on what a life it has been for him.

From his political stand, view on corruption and success to how his religious background shaped his success, here is an excerpt of his account:

I have time and again said, you know what I stand for and what I love.

As an elder in this country you know my position, kindly hear me.

Remember me. Think of what I say seriously and gauge yourself and ask in whose hands are we safe? Or in whose hands will we remain safe?

The choices we make have consequences.

As a church, we should continue to pray for the corrupt and thieves so that they can also change.

We must instil the belief that if you work hard you can still become a rich person.

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli joins other workers to celebrate the workers thanks giving prayer day at St. Stephen ACK Church along Jogoo Road on April 24, 2022
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli joins other workers to celebrate the workers thanks giving prayer day at St. Stephen ACK Church along Jogoo Road on April 24, 2022
Image: MAGDALINE SAYA

You can grow rich with your salary.

I have been working from June 2, 1967, to date, and what I have I can account for.

I have been waking up early in the morning at 5 am just to be in the office to work because I believe in service delivery.

If you have been given a job, do it well. There is no small or big job.

You can still become a rich person without involving yourself in corrupt tendering and procurement where people make us lose billions of taxpayers’ money.

If we will not be able to manage to stop corruption in this country, then the country will go through a rebirth, that is how God works.

That is what will happen if we don't listen to these church leaders who preach against stealing and corruption.

Rebirth is more painful than stopping corruption and if you want to know how painful it is then see what is happening in Eastern Europe, Ukraine or get somebody who was in Kigali, Rwanda, in 1994.

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli joins other workers to celebrate the workers thanks giving prayer day at St. Stephen ACK Church along Jogoo Road on April 24, 2022
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli joins other workers to celebrate the workers thanks giving prayer day at St. Stephen ACK Church along Jogoo Road on April 24, 2022
Image: MAGDALINE SAYA

There are no shortcuts to riches.

Being prayerful is an ingredient of sustaining and maintaining a peaceful society, a society of honest people.

When I was young serving as an altar boy, I asked God for one thing; poverty to get out of my way

 I used to pray for that so that my family and people don't suffer. I was endeared to my rosary and God answered me.

God has blessed me.

I might sustain myself self until I go to the grave because I asked God for that.

You just pray!

Live in prayers and you will have everything handed to you.  

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