Atwoli to seek re-election next year, COTU board says

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli at Solidarity Building, Nairobi on April 26, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] The executive Board members of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) have said that Francis Atwoli will defend his seat as the secretary general of the umbrella workers' body. Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday, the board dismissed the claims that Atwoli will be retiring soon. This comes after Atwoli, in a recent meeting with shop stewards and 2,000 elected COTU-affiliated leaders, hinted at the possibility of taking retirement from the body. On Saturday, decrying the infiltration of NGO's purporting to address labour issues, Atwoli hinted at a possible retirement while meeting trade unions affiliated to COTU. "Soon I will exit with all this group, that is when you will start realizing there is something amiss in Kenya's labour movement. You will see," said Atwoli, noting that Kenyans only remember their leaders after they leave office, as opposed to appreciating them while in power. On Tuesday, Mr. Moses Ndiema, COTU board member, said that the remarks of Atwoli were taken out of context. He claimed that there are people who are lobbying for the job, "assuming that our Secretary General will not defend his position in next year's elections". "We want to clarify and say that Dr. Francis Atwoli is still our Secretary General, he is still the leader of workers in this country, regionally and internationally, and he is going to contest to defend his position come election time next year," said Ndiema. Ndiema, who is also the general secretary of the Kenya Aviation workers' union said that the union has a lot of confidence in Atwoli's leadership. "To say that he is leaving soon is relative. Soon could be 10 years from now. Our understanding is that there is no vacancy, and we are going to vote him back to retain his position come next year," said Ndiema. "Our attention has been drawn to the fact that we have entities, what we can refer to as busybodies, who are engaging the government purportedly on behalf of workers and without exercising the right mandate," he added. He defended his boss, saying that the elections are forthcoming, and those willing to officially challenge Atwoli should express interest. Matilda Chebet, the General Secretary for the union representing workers in the water sector, said: "There are so many power-hungry individuals from NGOs who think that they can get to be Secretary General of COTU (K) by basically making sensational claims and walking from one office to another in government, thinking that the position is vacant." Mr. Isaac Andabwa, National General Secretary, Kenya National Private Security Workers Union (KNPSWU) termed as misinformation, claims on social media about Atwoli. "Social media has been blowing statements out of context. People have been spreading rumours all over," he said. Andabwa said that those spreading misinformation are not members of the union, hence have no effect as they cannot participate in the election because they are not affiliated with COTU (K). "And a lot of people who are trying to take away our union leadership are not our members," Mr. Andabwa said. Andabwa called out NGOs, asking them to stop interfering with the affairs of the trade union. "They do not form part of the membership of COTU. We are responsive to the needs of our members. Those who make so much noise about Atwoli are not members of any Union. You will never hear any trade unionist complaining about Atwoli," said Andabwa. In a joint statement, the board members said: "It is our choice. It is the Kenyan workers' choice that we still want Dr. Atwoli. We do not owe anyone any apology for the length of service of SG Francis Atwoli." Ndiema said that COTU cannot lose its legitimacy, given its membership. "We love him, and the board's decision to vote back Atwoli is pegged on this," he said. And while the Union boss may appear advanced in age, the board members have said he is by far the youngest when compared to other trade union leaders across the world. Ndiema, who is also the chairman of the Aviation and Allied Workers Union (AAWU) in Kenya, said that COTU is not under any threat. "We are getting more members. We are so far away from being threatened by them". He said that Atwoli is highly experienced and knowledgeable and is protected by the fact that his leadership position has no age limit, hence, the decision to vote him back. "Those are busybodies on the street saying there is a vacancy at COTU," The officials unanimously said that leadership is not by age.

Atwoli to seek re-election next year, COTU board says

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