COTU (K) SECRETARY GENERAL RE-ELECTED FOR A RECORD SIX TIMES

A message from Dr.Francis Atwoli following his re-election as Secretary General of COTU (K)

“ I am deeply humbled and honoured to have been re-elected as the Secretary General of Trade Unions(Kenya), COTU(K), during our 15th Quinquennial Delegates Conference held yesterday at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu. I wish to express my gratitude to the delegates from our affiliated unions, representing over four million kenyan workers, for the confidence you have once again placed in my leadership.This renewedmandate strengthens my resolve to continue serving the workers of kenya with dedication ,courage,and commitment.

Since i was first elected in 2001,the membership of COTU(K) has grown from about 300,000 members to over million workers today .This growth is a reflection of the strength, unity, and resilience of the kenyan labour movement.Because of this,COTU (K) today is a force to reckon with and remains an important source of national guidance and leadership .This explains why kenyan workers ,through COTU (K) are represented in strategic national institutions, including the NSSF, SHA,NITA,KNQA,MSEA,SRC,AHB,NLB, and various wages councils.

With this renewed mandate, i wish to assureworkers that COTU (K) will continue to widen the scope of representation by targeting additional national institutions where workers must have a voice in policy guidance and oversight. I also sincerely thank our affiliated unions for their tireless work in defending workers rights.Every year,our affiliates negotiate and sign close to 4,000 collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), which continue to improve the welfare of kenyan workers.As i begin this new term,i call upon all kenyan workers who are not yet membersof any trade union to join a union. Atrade union remains the strongest platform for protecting workers rights, improving working conditions, and ensuring fairness and dignity in the workplace.

I also reaffirm my commitment to the full modernization and completion of the Tom Mboya Labour College, a historic institution that continues to shape labour leadership in kenya and across africa.Already,over ksh0.9 billion has been invested in the reconstruction of the college, and we will ensure that it becomes a world-class centre for labour education and research.As the world of work rapidly evolves due to automation,artificial intelligence , and outsourcing, COTU (K) is also transforming.We are currently automating our systems and introducing new digital tools to enhance our effectiveness and ensure that workers can easily access support and information.

I also express my sincere apppreciation to the Chairman of the labour committee of the national assembly , Hon. Ken Chonga, and Member of parliament for Muhoroni, Hon.james onyango K` Oyoo, for joining kenyan workers on this special day. Let me also acknowledge and thank the Principal Secretary for public Service ,Dr.Jane Imbunya, who joined us at the conference and delivered a moving solidarity message on the importance of collaboration between COTU (K) and the Government of Kenya.Finally ,I extend my sincere appreciation to our international partners and friends who joined us in Kisumu for this important occasion. In particular, I thank Bro. Arezki Mezhood, Secretary General of OATUU; Bro. Joel Odigie , General Secretary for ITUC-Africa; Bro.Hanad Mohamed ,Country Director of the Solidarity Centre ; and Bro .A. Robinson of the Seychelles Federation of Workers union`.

Dr. Francis Atwoli ,NoM (DZA), CBS,EBS,MBS