The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) has confirmed that its long-serving secretary general Francis Atwoli will be defending his seat in the next election, due next year at Tom Mboya Labour College, Kisumu.
Members of the union's executive committee said they had endorsed him as the ideal person to continue defending the rights of workers' unions in the country.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday at the union’s headquarters in Nairobi, the executive board members dismissed claims alleging that 74-year-old Atwoli will be retiring soon from the umbrella workers body.
“It is our choice, it is our decision, and it is the Kenyan workers' voice that we still want Francis Atwoli. It is purely democracy. There is nothing wrong. Nobody can fault our decisions on any grounds. We love him. He has experience, he has the knowledge, he has what the Kenyan worker needs," said Moss Ndiema, the secretary-general of Kenya Aviation Workers Union (Kawu).
Mr Ndiema said while there are concerns over the desire to have new faces in the union, the experience that Mr Atwoli has had in the labour-related issues since 2001 locally and internationally gives him a direct ticket for another term.
“Cotu constitution has no age limit and we attend the international conferences where we come across people who are older than Atwoli by far. Our secretary general may look the oldest in our local settings but internationally, he is very young,” Mr Ndiema said.
Cotu executive board members (from left) Jescah Nandwa, Isaac Andabwa, Moss Ndiema and Matilda Kimitto during a press conference at the union's headquarter in Nairobi on April 29, 2025.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
The board members further clarified that remarks by Mr Atwoli on Saturday during a shop stewards’ meeting were taken out of context.
During that meeting, Mr Atwoli said that he would retire soon.
The national general secretary for Kenya National Private Security Workers Union Isaac Andabwa said those calling for Mr Atwoli's retirement are busy bodies who are not even registered members of any workers union in the country.
“There are regulations in the Ministry of Labour to guide towards an election, but as of now, we say there is no vacant position in Cotu until the time when we will receive a notice from the ministry,” Mr Andabwa said.
Mr Andabwa said when the time for the election comes, the board will vet all prospective candidates for their suitability to vie for elective seats.
“Before you participate in Cotu elections, we must sit down and approve that you are from a trade union and we are affiliated. You cannot just come out of the bush and start saying that you want to be Cotu leader. Stop that nonsense, Cotu has its owners,” Mr Andabwa said.
Other executive board members who attended the press briefing include Matilda Chebe and Jeska Akasina.
Mr Atwoli was re-elected unopposed to serve for the fifth term in the last election, where he promised to serve all the workers in the country.
He previously served as the General Secretary of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union and also in a senior position at the Union of Posts and Telecommunication Employees.
Last year, Mr Atwoli was re-elected to serve for the fifth time as a Titular Member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governor body, becoming the longest serving member.
