NAIROBI, Kenya — There were songs, dances and celebrations in Kisumu on Saturday after veteran trade unionist Francis Atwoli was re-elected unopposed as Secretary-General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) for a sixth term.
The election was held during the 15th Quinquennial Governing Council Delegates Conference at the Tom Mboya Labour College.
Atwoli’s latest victory extends a grip on Kenya’s labour movement that began in 2001, when he first took over the union umbrella body’s top post from Joseph Mugalla.
His re-election had been widely expected after he secured endorsements from dozens of affiliate union leaders earlier this year.
Speaking after the outcome, Atwoli thanked delegates and workers across the country for once again entrusting him with the role, saying the fresh mandate would strengthen his push to defend workers’ rights and deepen the professionalism of the labour movement.
He said COTU’s membership had grown from about 300,000 when he first took office to more than four million workers today.
He also used the moment to defend the credibility of the election, saying union members managed the process themselves and kept it free from outside interference.
Atwoli praised political leaders and the government for staying away from the polls, saying that respected the independence of the labour movement.
The long-serving union boss pointed to several milestones under his watch, including the expansion of the Employment and Labour Relations Court, the strengthening of collective bargaining agreements, and labour protections entrenched in the 2010 Constitution, especially under Article 41 on workers’ rights.
Several other COTU officials were also re-elected unopposed in the wider leadership vote, underscoring the dominance of the outgoing team at the delegates’ conference.
Those returned include Rajabu Mwondi, Rev. Joel Chebii, Francis Murage, Benson Okwaro, Ernest Nadome, Carolyne Rutto, Rebecca Nyathogora, Wasington Adongo, Francis Wangara, Joseph Nyabiya, and Nelson Mwaniki.
Saturday’s celebration capped months of political and organisational groundwork by Atwoli and his allies. In January 2026, he was unanimously endorsed by 42 secretaries-general of COTU-affiliated unions, a move that signalled little serious resistance ahead of the vote.
He had also been re-elected unopposed as secretary-general of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) as he prepared for the COTU contest.
Atwoli remains one of the most recognisable and influential figures in Kenya’s trade union movement, with a profile that stretches beyond the country through regional and international labour bodies.
His re-election means he will continue steering COTU at a time when Kenyan workers are grappling with wage pressures, taxation debates, and wider economic uncertainty.
