President William Ruto with Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli during Labour Day celebrations at Chavakali Boys High School in Vihiga County on May 01, 2026.
For generations, the fight for workers’ rights centred on a clear demand: fair wages, reasonable hours, and safe conditions.
We must protect the dignity of the worker, recognise their humanity, and celebrate the dedication, resilience and hard work of all.
Yesterday, like so many before it, I took the day off, but this year something made me pause. In all the years I’ve celebrated Labour Day, I’ve rarely stopped to reflect on what it means today. And in a world transforming fast and furiously, that reflection feels urgent. The education systems that shape our workforce, the very nature of work itself, and the rights of workers are all being tested by a climate in crisis, global energy and nature transitions, and the rise of artificial intelligence. Labour Day is no longer just a moment to rest, but also to think about the future we’re building and the conditions in which we work.
What began as a movement for workers in the United States demanding an eight-hour workday in the late 1800s has become a globally recognised day. In Kenya, the struggle for workers’ rights was instrumental in sustaining momentum towards independence through the Kenya Federation of Labour and Tom Mboya in the absence of notable African political representation during the State of Emergency.
