NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 14 – Francis Atwoli has been re-elected Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (Kenya) for another five-year term, extending his leadership of the country’s largest labour umbrella body to 2031.
Atwoli secured a new mandate during the federation’s 15th Quinquennial Delegates Conference held at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu, where more than 250 delegates from 47 affiliated unions participated in the vote.
His re-election marks a sixth term since he first assumed the position in 2001, making him the longest-serving secretary general in the organisation’s history.
In his acceptance remarks, Atwoli said the renewed mandate reflected the confidence of affiliate unions and pledged to continue advancing workers’ interests.
“This renewed mandate is not mine alone, it belongs to the millions of workers whose rights and welfare COTU (K) continues to defend and advance.”
The labour federation says its membership has expanded significantly during his tenure, rising from about 300,000 members in 2001 to more than four million workers today through its affiliated unions.
Atwoli noted that trade unions under the federation negotiate thousands of collective bargaining agreements annually, which he said strengthens workers’ representation in the labour market.
“Our affiliated unions collectively negotiate and sign up to 4,000 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) annually, making Kenyan workers among the most effectively represented in trade unions globally.”
The federation also maintains representation in several state institutions, including the National Social Security Fund (Kenya), Salaries and Remuneration Commission and the National Industrial Training Authority.
Atwoli said the organisation will continue expanding worker representation while pursuing reforms including digitisation of services and the ongoing reconstruction of the Tom Mboya Labour College, where COTU says it has invested about Sh900million to modernise training facilities.
He also called on non-unionised workers to join trade unions, arguing that collective organisation remains critical in protecting labour rights amid technological disruption and evolving employment models.
COTU (K) is Kenya’s main umbrella body for trade unions, representing workers across sectors including manufacturing, transport, public service and agriculture.
The organisation plays a central role in collective bargaining, labour policy advocacy and worker representation in national labour institutions.
