Cotu Secretary-General Francis Atwoli.
A directive by the Registrar of Trade Unions requiring all workers’ organisations to hold their grassroots and national elections between January and August 2026, has ignited supremacy battles, with the exercise coming just a year before the 2027 General Election.
Ms Ann Kanake, the Registrar of Trade Unions, directed unions across the country to hold polls starting with branch elections between January 5, 2026 and March 31, 2026, while the national elections should be conducted between April 1 and June 30, 2026.
Umbrella bodies such as Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have also been directed to hold elections by August 30, 2026 and that all voting should adhere to the constitutions of the respective organisations.
Trade unions have been directed to conduct the elections through secret ballot and membership registers must be updated 60 days before the polls. Further, the Registrar, Labour Commissioner and County Labour offices should be notified of elections 14 days before they are held.
Interference by external forces, especially the government and leading presidential aspirants angling for support in the 2027 General Election, given the large voter base provided by the workers is expected to come into play.
President William Ruto has been seen to warm up to the various trade unions and has already held sessions with Cotu, Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and the Kenya Union Special Needs Education Teachers (Kusnet).
This has been interpreted as an effort to rally millions of workers to back him in 2027 at a time the workforce has raised a myriad of issues against the government over multi-level taxation eating into their earnings. The opposition could also target the unions and trumpet the discontent.
But the Kenya Medical, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Knut, Kuppet, Kusnet and Knun told the Nation they do not expect any undue influence in the impending election and that as a long-held tradition, they will rally behind the government of the day after the next general election.
Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu-K) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli at a past event.
Mr Francis Atwoli, the Cotu Secretary General and the most prominent trade unionist in the country, has previously led workers in the country in throwing their weight behind some candidates for the top seat, including former President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
In the 2022 General Election, Mr Atwoli backed Mr Odinga, but when he lost, he quickly shifted allegiance to President Ruto and his administration.
Mr Atwoli, who has no known competitor at the moment, said external interference in the umbrella union body election and in the affiliate organisations was not expected in the election.
“Our (Cotu) election will be free, fair and democratic in what is replicated in other respected, internationally affiliated organisations. We embrace the strong tenets of democracy with delegates wielding absolute freedom and power to pick leaders of their choice to steer the affairs of the union”, Mr Atwoli said.
In an interview on Friday from Geneva where he was attending an International Labour Organizations (ILO) meeting, Atwoli said it was in order for the Registrar of Trade Unions to issue directives on union elections.
“Every five years, trade unions go to polls to pick new leaders or extend the term of office for the ones in place. Directives by the Registrar of Trade Unions on union election are perfectly in order and should be complied with,” Mr Atwoli stated.
Mr Atwoli said the decision as to whether he will run or not rests with the affiliated trade unions.
“The question as to whether I will be vying or not is for the delegates from Cotu affiliated unions to decide since I am their employee and will abide by their calling. If they want me to run, I will definitely run, should they feel I need to go home or stay at the helm, then I will do exactly that,” Mr Atwoli said.
The unionist, who openly states he is a Kanu party life member, is also the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (Kpawu) Secretary General, said workers in the country will play a crucial role in electing the next crop of leaders in the 2027 General Election, just like the previous election cycles.
“Kenyan workers, going by their numbers, will play a leading role in picking the next lot of leaders from Members of the County Assembly, Members of Parliament and the President,” Mr Atwoli said.
He added: “Workers are also encouraged to gun for the existing elective positions in the country so that they could help in legislation in parliament and shape the policies in the workplace and ensure the needs of our members are taken care of.”
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers National Chairman Omboko Milemba at a past event.
Mr Omboko Milemba, the Kuppet reinforced the position that trade unions should work with the government of the day after every election.
“Trade unions work with the governments of the day and Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli has set a good example by shifting allegiance after the last general election to back President William Ruto’s administration,” Mr Milemba said.
Mr Milemba, who doubles up as the Emuhaya MP, said Kuppet has a responsibility to work with the government of the day as the biggest employer of the members represented, but would not sway its people on political allegiance.
“We shall not be backing any political party but we shall work with whoever wins the presidential poll and forms government. That is why we led teachers to meet the President at State House recently, where the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) implementation timelines was reduced by half – from four to two phases,” Mr Milemba said.
In Kuppet, Mr Milemba (chairman), Secretary General Akello Misori and Treasurer Mwethi Njenga are defending their positions in the poll with unrest in leadership by youthful branch officials.
Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary general Collins Oyuu.
Mr Collins Oyuu, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General said in Kericho that he will be defending his position.
Mr Oyuu could face off with his predecessor, former ODM nominated MP Wilson Sossion. Mr Sossion has declined to officially declare whether he will run for the position or not, only stating in a recent media interview that he will make the final decision in the Christmas season after consulting with teachers.
“I have a solid foundation, global experience in trade union matters, and in education issues, as well as a strong background in education leadership,” he told the Nation, adding that he was a paid-up Knut member up to June 2026.
He added: “I am eligible to be elected to as the Secretary General of any Trade Union in the country as per provisions of Article 41 of the Constitution. Even n if I do not oust Oyuu, someone in the union will.”
But legal issues stand in the way of his Knut candidature as he was deregistered as a teacher by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in 2018 with failed attempts for reinstatement in 2019 and 2021.
Deregistration, as per Section 30 of the TSC Act (2012) means one cannot be recognised as a teacher in any public or private institution.
One can appeal against deregistration within 90 days, but from experience, success in such cases are rare.
His possible candidature, even after stepping down in June 2021, has generated heat in the union even as Mr Oyuu says he is not bothered by the talk of Mr Sossion’s comeback.
Former Knut Secretary-General Wilson Sossion.
“As a matter of fact, Sossion resigned from Knut to pursue other interests and I am not aware of plans for a comeback. I am focusing on re-election by the members along with the other top officials in the union and he is the least of our worries right now,” Mr Oyuu said.
He added “As far as we in Knut are concerned, Sossion has been lobbying for appointment as TSC Chief Executive Officer. Whether or not he has turned around to seek a comeback to the union is a matter that does not bother me right now.”
Mr Oyuu said he was looking forward to being re-elected based on his track record in turning around the union, revamping the membership and reinstating the good name it had in the teaching profession.
He said he does not expect external interference in the election as the power to vote was vested on members of the union.
“Knut is a democratic union with members free to choose leaders of their choice based on their ability to deliver. We have gone through a rough season, but emerged better, with the dignity of teachers restored and we are looking forward to better things ahead,” Mr Oyuu said.
Kenya National Union of Nurses Ag secretary-general Maurice Opetu.
Mr Maurice Opetu, the Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) Deputy Secretary General said the union in its 50 branches countrywide, will carry elections in adherence to the current constitution and other guiding laws and regulations.
“The election shall be transparent and credible. We do not expect any external interference including from the government as we have the ability and all the instruments to carry out our internal elections. It is an election for the members by the members,” Mr Opetu said, adding that no interference by external forces will be entertained.
He added: “We shall not be inclined to any presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election but we are always guided to work and support the government of the day. But, that notwithstanding, we shall also criticise and demand better working conditions, decent remunerations, decent remuneration to our members and quality service to the people.”
Dr Abi Mwachi, the national chairman of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) said the union’s elections early next year are expected to be free and fair as all measures have been put in place.
“We have set high standards of democracy as we are the only union that employs universal suffrage with candidates having to traverse the 47 counties to seek votes,” Dr Mwachi said in an interview.
Dr Mwachi said “Our election is similar to the presidential election, with secret ballot being used, in parts of efforts to avoid interference by outsiders on the election of the union officials.”
Mr James Torome, the Kusnet Secretary General said the union was prepared for election as directed by the Registrar of Trade Unions and that the members will independently pick leaders of their choice.
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