Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli on Tuesday kicked out his second wife, Roselinda Simiyu Atwoli and their son out of his Kileleshwa home, the Star newspaper reported Thursday.
Roselinda is said to have filed a complaint with police accusing the trade unionist of forcibly evicting her and their 13-year-old son from their Kileleshwa home in Nairobi.
According to Roselinda, a visit to see their son on Tuesday evening degenerated into a furious exchange of words, culminating in her being forced out of the house together with the boy at 7 pm.
The Star reports that Roselinda said she visited her son on the advice of Fida – the premier women’s rights organization in Kenya. Atwoli is said to have assumed custody of the boy in January.
The outspoken COTU boss has defended his actions saying he allowed Roselinda to come and visit but she overstayed her welcome.
He explained that he has never denied her access to the son and that she is free to visit and even go out with him, but not stay in the apartment.
Atwoli and Roselinda reportedly acquired the apartment in 2006.
“I allowed her to come and visit the kid but not spend the night. I have a first wife who does not behave like Roselinda. She respects our marriage,” Atwoli was quoted as saying.
Atwoli met Roselinda 22 years ago when she was a single mother of three. Their marriage bore them two kids.
According to Roselinda, their marital hiccups started as early as 2015. In 2016, Atwoli was at odds with her when she allowed her eldest daughter to take aviation studies in South Africa. Their differences resulted in Atwoli writing a letter to the school to discontinue the girl’s studies.
“From then he changed and it was like he had no soul anymore. He was clearly blacked out. There was no person when I looked at him,” Roselinda said.
She says a ‘chaotic’ Atwoli has not supported the family financially since the marriage turned sour.
“From 2016 to date, he has never assaulted me but I have heard all sorts of insults,” Roselinda said.
