Francis Atwoli, the long-serving Secretary General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), has said that Kenyans will only realise something is wrong with the country’s labour movement once he exits the stage.
Speaking ahead of Labour Day 2025, Atwoli said that those who do not understand the operations of international trade union systems would quickly ignore Cotu’s achievements once he is gone. He reminded the country that Cotu remains one of the most powerful trade union organisations in Africa, noting that it even played a key role in having the first African picked as Secretary General in an international trade union body.
According to Atwoli, such milestones are not mere accidents but a result of years of effort and respect Cotu has built across borders. He warned that the moment he leaves office, Kenyans would start seeing gaps in the labour sector that are not immediately visible now.
In his words, “Soon, I will exit with all this group, that is when you will start realising there is something amiss in Kenya’s labour movement. You will see.” His comments paint a worrying picture of a future where Cotu’s influence and strength might decline without his leadership. He lamented that Kenyans have a tendency to only appreciate their leaders once they have left office, an unfortunate pattern that he believes will play out again after his retirement.
Speaking during a Cotu summit convened ahead of Labour Day celebrations, Atwoli hinted strongly that his retirement is approaching. Addressing the gathering on May 14, 2025, he revealed that he had served under every Kenyan president since independence, from Mzee Jomo Kenyatta to President William Ruto. Reflecting on his long career, Atwoli said, “I have seen the government of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the founding father of this nation, I have seen Mzee Daniel Moi’s government, which we were with for 24 years, I have seen the government of Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta and yours (William Ruto).” He further suggested that President Ruto’s government might be the last administration under which he will serve before retiring to his rural home in Khwisero.
Atwoli has held the position of Cotu Secretary General since August 2001 when he was first elected. His tenure has not been without controversy, with many Kenyans frequently questioning how long he intends to remain in office.
Despite the criticism, Atwoli has often defended his record, pointing to several gains made for workers under his leadership. He highlighted, among other achievements, his fight to ensure that paternity leave is recognised for Kenyan workers, as part of a broader effort to establish and defend five critical sets of labour laws.With his possible exit now seeming closer than ever, questions are bound to emerge about the future stability and strength of Cotu without Atwoli at the helm.
Whether the organisation will maintain its regional and international influence or slide into irrelevance remains to be seen, but Atwoli’s warning seems to suggest that the road ahead may not be as smooth as many assume.
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