Also known as: Cotu
Kenya's leading trade union federation, which requested a 23% wage increase during 2026 Labour Day celebrations amid worker concerns over cost of living.
President William Ruto's 61st Labour Day celebration was characterised by political mobilisation, with COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli prioritising support for Ruto's 2027 re-election over workers' welfare, while Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi called on the region to boost voter registration for a "tu-tam" victory for the President.
9 hours ago · The Standard →
President William Ruto's 61st Labour Day celebration was characterised by political mobilisation, with COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli prioritising support for Ruto's 2027 re-election over workers' welfare, while Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi called on the region to boost voter registration for a "tu-tam" victory for the President.
9 hours ago · The Standard →
President William Ruto addressed Kenyan workers during Labour Day celebrations, calling for support for his second presidential bid and pledging to unite the country. He accused the opposition of fuelling division while political leaders endorsed his re-election campaign.
17 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
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.
20 hours ago · Capital News →
President William Ruto has announced a 12 percent increase in general wages and a 15 percent rise in agricultural wages to cushion workers against the rising cost of living. The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has called for at least a 23 percent minimum wage increase, citing previous increases of 22, 18, and 14 percent under former President Kibaki.
21 hours ago · 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.
23 hours ago · Capital News →
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has criticized the government in a Labour Day statement, saying Kenyan workers have little to celebrate amid shrinking incomes, rising taxes, and economic deterioration. Gachagua positioned himself as an ally of workers facing heavy taxation, stagnant wages, and rising cost of living, linking their plight to the 2027 General Election.
1 May 2026 · Capital News →
President William Ruto will lead the nation in marking Labour Day celebrations in Vihiga County, with the government and stakeholders having completed logistical arrangements. Labour union leaders are pushing for wage increases to help workers cope with rising fuel and food prices.
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 →