Blow To Atwoli After Petition Filed Against His COTU Re-Election
A petition has been submitted in court, challenging the re-election of the veteran Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) leader Francis Atwoli for a sixth straight term.
The petitioners allege that the election exercise was conducted in complete violation and disregard for the legally prescribed union election cycle.
Additionally, the petitioners contend that the poll that gave Atwoli a sixth straight term at the helm of the labour union was flawed and excluded some labour unions.
Atwoli was elected unopposed in an election conducted at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on Saturday, March 14, in an election attended by hundreds of workers.
The unionist, who has led COTU-K since 2001, was re‑elected in what marked his sixth term at the helm of the country’s largest labour federation.
There were at least 250 delegates attending the meeting, with 47 affiliated workers’ unions participating in the vote.
The COTU SG’s leadership has, in recent months, attracted criticism, with some calling for leadership change within COTU‑K, citing the need for new ideas and individuals.
A month earlier, on January 17 this year, the veteran was re-elected unopposed as General Secretary of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU), and secured another five-year term.
ALSO READ:
- Kirinyaga Women Rep Blocked From Accessing School Despite Lobbying Its Construction
- Kenya, Türkiye Sign Defence Pact Months After Drone Acquisition
- KUCCPS Announces Portal Opening Date As Application Window Closes
- Atwoli Hits Back At Gachagua Over Parallel Trade Union Proposal
- EXPLAINER: New Changes For National Schools Enrollment
Nonetheless, Atwoli has played a pivotal role in the growth of the labour movement, most notably at COTU-K, where membership has surged from approximately 300,000 workers to over four million.
This remarkable expansion has transformed the organisation into one of Kenya’s most powerful labour voices.
Under his leadership, COTU-K now comprises 45 affiliated unions and plays a key role in representing worker interests in national institutions such as NSSF, SHA, and NITA.
Meanwhile, the petitioners, Fazul Mahamed and the Institute for Democratic Governance that the March 14 exercise was conducted prematurely.
At the same time, according to court documents, they want the entire exercise to be declared null and void and stop the Registrar of Trade Unions from gazetting the results and bar all those who were elected from assuming office.
Blow To Atwoli After Petition Filed Against His COTU Re-Election
