Atwoli re-elected unopposed as KPAWU secretary general

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Central Organisation of Trade Unions secretary general Francis Atwoli has been re-elected unopposed as the secretary general of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union for another five-year term.

The planters’ union also endorsed Atwoli to seek re-election as Cotu secretary general in the umbrella body’s polls scheduled for August 2026, extending a show of confidence in his leadership across the labour movement.

Welcoming the endorsement, Atwoli said the renewed mandate reaffirmed the union’s trust in his stewardship and pledged to continue advancing workers’ welfare.

In a statement shared on X, he said the re-election and endorsement to contest the Cotu position underscored his commitment to safeguarding workers’ interests and improving their livelihoods.

"I wish to affirm my commitment towards advancing worker’s interests and improving their welfare," he said.

Atwoli will be seeking a sixth term at the Cotu elections. On January 6, he was unanimously endorsed by 42 secretary generals of Cotu-affiliated unions to defend his seat as head of the umbrella organisation.

A long-serving and outspoken labour leader, Atwoli has built a reputation both locally and internationally, often earning unopposed mandates to represent workers’ interests on global platforms.

On June 10, 2025, he was unanimously re-elected as deputy president of the Commonwealth Trade Union Group (CTUG).

CTUG is a network of national trade union centres from more than 40 Commonwealth countries, representing over 70 million workers.

Established in 1979 as the Commonwealth Trade Union Council before being renamed in 2004, the group is regarded as the most influential trade union body within the Commonwealth, playing a key role in shaping labour policy and advocating for workers’ rights.

Following his re-election, Atwoli described the outcome as a reaffirmation of confidence in his leadership and dedication to advancing workers’ interests globally.

He said CTUG remained a powerful voice for labour across the Commonwealth and pledged to ensure members’ concerns were heard at the highest levels of decision-making.

At the national level, Atwoli was unanimously re-elected unopposed for a fifth term as Cotu secretary general during the April 12, 2021 elections held at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu, following the 14th quinquennial conference.

He has served Cotu since 2001, when he took over from the late Joseph Joy Mugalla. His current five-year term is due to end on May 26, 2026.

Beyond Cotu, Atwoli continues to hold influential positions within the global labour movement.

On June 24, 2024, he was re-elected for a record fifth term as a titular member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governing Body, becoming the longest-serving member of the Geneva-based body.

The mandate runs for three years. Earlier, on March 27, 2019, he was re-elected for a second consecutive term as president of the Global Industrial Relations Oversight Board during elections held in Geneva, Switzerland.