Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli has hinted at retiring from the trade union leadership.
Speaking during the burial of Raila Odinga’s long serving bodyguard, George Oduor, he said that he has served under all Presidents Kenya has had.
Atwoli said that Ruto is likely the last Head of State he will serve under as the Central Organisation of Trade Union (Cotu) boss.
“I have had the opportunity to serve all 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 who 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.
The Cotu boss said of all the former Kenyan presidents, not many would attend the funeral of Oduor, but Ruto decided to do it.
“To say the truth, not all of these presidents I have served would have come to the funeral of someone like George.”
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.
A few weeks ago, former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana asked Atwoli to give deep thoughts to whether Cotu or trade union leadership should be without term limits.
His remarks followed Kibwana’s congratulatory message after Atwoli welcomed a son with his wife Mary Kilobi.
“I heartily congratulate the Atwoli family for the new arrival in their family. Cotu (K) should give their Secretary General a well deserved Paternity Leave during which they can also discuss: Should Cotu and trade union leadership be a life tenure affair?” wrote on X.
In his response, 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.
He went on to say that he is agemates with the Professor of Law, and he was recently appointed a professor in one of the universities in Kenya.
