NAIROBI, Kenya – Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has stirred debate after declaring that Kenya has no place for young leaders, insisting that experienced leadership is vital for the country’s stability and growth.
Speaking on Friday at the official opening of the Third Edition of the Employment and Labour Relations Court Annual Symposium (ELRASE III) in Nairobi, Atwoli argued that retaining the old guard was the surest way to sustain astute leadership.
“Let no one tell you that this country needs young leaders… nowhere in the world. How old is Donald Trump? Even the Italian president is 93, he has to be assisted to the podium,” Atwoli said.
The veteran trade unionist, who has served as COTU boss for 24 years, suggested that workers have kept him in office because they “don’t want to let me go.”
Atwoli also called for stronger protections for children, noting that dignified livelihoods for parents were the best way to safeguard children’s rights.
“We have advocated for stronger social protections and we know the best way to protect a child is to ensure that the parents have dignified livelihoods,” he said.
The symposium, themed “Elimination of All Forms of Child Labour and Access to Justice,” was presided over by Chief Justice Martha Koome, who emphasised the urgent need to end child labour.
“Child labour is an evil in our society. It robs children of their dignity and their future,” CJ Koome stated.
Justice Antony Mrima echoed her sentiments, urging collective action: “The elimination of child labour cannot be done by the judiciary alone.
May our conversations in this symposium inspire bold and practical steps to protect children and secure their full potential.”
