President William Ruto announced that salaried workers will now pay 5 percent of the unit's value as a deposit for affordable housing, down from the previous 10 percent. He called on trade unions to mobilise members to register on the Boma Yangu platform and apply for available housing categories.
1 May 2026 · Capital News →
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has pressured President William Ruto to accelerate ratification of ILO Conventions 189 and 190, which protect domestic workers and address workplace violence and harassment, noting that the President previously committed to advancing the ratification process during the 2025 Labour Day celebrations but little progress has been made.
1 May 2026 · Capital News →
Trade unions in Kenya were founded as instruments of worker protection and collective bargaining, with roots in the anti-colonial struggle of the 1940s–50s. The article examines how unions like KNUT (established 1957), COTU (1965), KUPPET (1998), and UASU (2003) have evolved under Kenya's Labour Relations Act of 2007 and constitutional frameworks, emphasizing the need for democratic representation and sector-specific service to active workers.
1 May 2026 · The Standard →
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli called on the IEBC to take firm action against political rallies occurring before an official campaign period is announced, warning that workers will suffer most if political tensions and polarisation escalate into national instability.
1 May 2026 · The Standard →
President William Ruto announced a 12 per cent increase in general wages and a 15 per cent increase in agricultural wages during Labour Day celebrations in Vihiga County. The announcement comes as the Central Organisation of Trade Unions had requested a 23 per cent wage increment.
1 May 2026 · The Standard →