Francis Atwoli has been re-elected Secretary General of Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) for another five-year time, at a delegates meeting held in Kisumu on Saturday, 14 March 2026.

Atwoli secured his sixth win making him the longest serving Secretary General of the organization. He has been at the helm of the workers’ union since 2001.

He was re-elected unopposed, at a delegates meeting held at Tom Mboya University College in Kisumu, attended by hundreds of workers.

In his acceptance speech, Atwoli lauded the unionists for expressing confidence in leadership and pledged to continue fighting for the workers’ rights.

“This renewed mandate is not mine alone, it belongs to the millions of workers whose rights and welfare COTU (K) continues to defend and advance,” he stated. 

The delegates’ meeting brought together more than 250 representatives from 47 affiliated unions who took part in electing top officials of Central Organization of Trade Unions.

Union members welcomed the re-election of the veteran COTU leader, noting that his leadership will guarantee continuity due to his extensive experience in union affairs.

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) is the main umbrella body that represents trade unions and workers in Kenya.

It was first formed in 1965, two years after Kenya gained independence, to replace the Kenya Federation of Labor (KFL), which had previously represented workers during the colonial and early independence period.