Atwoli: I'll soon leave Cotu, you'll realise something is amiss in labour movement

Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli has said that Kenyans will soon realise that something is amiss in the labour movement once he retires.

Atwoli, who is the long-serving Cotu Secretary General, said that those who are unfamiliar with how the structures in the international trade unions work will be quick to dismiss Cotu.                

“Cotu in Africa is one of the most powerful trade union organisations. If Cotu spearheaded the first African to pick an SG in the international organisation, it is not a joke,” he said on Saturday.  

“Soon, I will exit with all this group, that is when you will start realising there is something amiss in Kenya’s labour movement. You will see.”

The SG said that Kenyans are keen on remembering their leaders after they have left office and not when serving them.

Cotu held a meeting ahead of Labour Day 2025.

Speaking on May 14, 2025, Atwoli hinted at retiring from the trade union leadership, saying that he has served under all the  Presidents Kenya has had.

Atwoli said that President William Ruto is likely the last Head of State he will serve under as the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) boss.

“I have had the opportunity to serve all the Presidents of Kenya since independence. I have seen the government of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the founding father of this nation, I have seen Mzee Daniel Moi's government, which we were with for 24 years, I have seen the government of Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta and yours (William Ruto). Maybe your government will probably be the last government I serve and return to Khwisero,” he said.

Atwoli is the long-serving Cotu Secretary General, a position he was first elected into in August 2001. He remains the SG to date.

His tenure at the union has always been a subject of public debate, with many Kenyans questioning how long he plans to remain in office.

Atwoli said that over the years, he has fought to ensure all Kenyan workers get paternity leave as part of his work to bring about the five sets of labour laws.