COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has stirred excitement online after sharing a nostalgic throwback photo of himself with his first car, dating back over five decades.
Taking to his official X account, Atwoli posted the black-and-white image from 1974, showing a 24-year-old version of himself dressed in a light-coloured long-sleeve shirt, matching pants, and a pair of boots, proudly standing next to a car.
“At the age of 24, in 1974, with my first car, Datsun Sports, which was under the registration KVR 704. Life, indeed, is a journey, and those that are patient and intricate travel a beautiful journey,” he captioned the post.
The photo, which looks like it is straight out of a Sauti Sol album cover, quickly caught the attention of netizens.
One user, @oderarobin, asked: “That’s the age when most people are finishing university or college. Where did you get money to buy your first car, bwana?”
@MainaWaKangema added, “Indeed, good Sir! Keep posting to inspire us. These are golden contributions. We, the younger folk, appreciate them.”
But not everyone was convinced.
@djdougze pointed out a potential inconsistency: “If a KXP number plate was in 1986/87, a bus my father owned carried that plate, how is KVR from 1974?”
Another user, @beriahdesilva, had a sobering perspective: “I believe you need to give the young generation opportunities to own cars at that age. How many youths today can afford one, even while working?”
@tom_goko also chimed in, challenging the post’s context: “Point of correction, that’s a pick-up van. Last I checked, you were a technician at Posta. Is that a ladder on the roof, or what am I seeing?”
Francis Atwoli, a towering figure in Kenya’s labor movement, is no stranger to the limelight.
As the long-serving Secretary-General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), he’s known for his flamboyant lifestyle, vocal political opinions, and close ties to the country’s elite.