Central Organisation of Trade Unions — labour federation representing Kenyan workers, led by Secretary General Francis Atwoli as of 2026.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Capital News
… He has also called on the Central Organisation of Trade Unions, COTU, and its affiliate unions to mobilise members to register on the Boma Yangu platform and apply for available housing categories. …
Ruto Cuts Affordable Housing Deposit from 10% to 5%Capital News
NAIROBI,Kenya May 1 – Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has stepped up pressure on President William Ruto to fast-track the ratification of key international labour conventions, warning that continued delays are weakening worker protecti …
Atwoli pushes Ruto’s administration over delayed Labour treaties,cites broken promisesThe Standard
… Following independence in 1963, the labour organisation expanded with the creation of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) in 1965, followed by KUPPET in 1998 and UASU in 2003. …
Rewriting the Future of Trade Unionism in KenyaThe Standard
… This comes as the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) request for a 23 per cent wage increment. …
Ruto announces 12 per cent pay rise for Kenyan workersThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeCOTU SG Francis Atwoli addresses workers, Nairobi. [Benard Orwongo, Standard] Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has called for urgent reforms in service delivery and urban planning in Nairobi City County, as the capital …
Atwoli faults Sakaja over running of Nairobi, calls for accountabilityKakamega Senator Boni Khalwale publicly disagreed with Deputy Governor Ayub Savula at a funeral in Lugari constituency over Western region's political path ahead of the 2027 General Election. Khalwale called on Savula to drop support for President William Ruto's re-election bid and instead back Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna for the presidency.
19 July 2026 · The Standard →
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale publicly disagreed with Deputy Governor Ayub Savula at a funeral in Lugari constituency over Western region's political path ahead of the 2027 General Election. Khalwale called on Savula to drop support for President William Ruto's re-election bid and instead back Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna for the presidency.
19 July 2026 · The Standard →
Thousands of Mombasa port workers are preparing for Dock Workers Union elections scheduled for August 13, with acting general secretary Sulman Owour, former assistant general secretary Abubakar Abdillahi, and KPA operations officer Salim Kumaka competing for positions. An Employment and Labour Relations Court judge nullified the previous April 4 election and ordered fresh polls.
18 July 2026 · The Standard →
Irene Kendi, a 39-year-old former Students Organisation of the University of Nairobi deputy president and youth empowerment activist, has announced her intention to run for the presidency in 2027, citing her leadership experience and work as a strategist for Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto, and Raila Odinga.
13 July 2026 · The Standard →
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions has rejected the Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary's recent wage gazette notice, arguing it published only a minimum wage increase rather than the 12 per cent general wage increase that President William Ruto announced. Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli said the two are distinct interventions, with a general increase benefiting all workers across the wage structure while a minimum wage increase applies only to those earning the statutory minimum.
10 July 2026 · The Standard →
The Seafarers Union of Kenya has warned that Kenya's maritime employment sector is being undermined by the absence of a national wage structure and weak labour protections. The union is pushing for comprehensive legislation to standardise wages, strengthen oversight of recruitment agencies, and improve welfare for Kenyan seafarers, saying local workers earn less than foreign counterparts performing the same duties.
2 July 2026 · The Standard →
The Seafarers Union of Kenya warns that the absence of a national wage structure and weak labour protections are undermining Kenyan seafarers' employment opportunities abroad. The union is pushing for comprehensive legislation to standardise wages, strengthen recruitment agency oversight, and improve welfare protections, noting that Kenyan workers earn less than foreign counterparts for the same duties.
2 July 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's Employment and Labour Relations Court issued a June 11 judgment allowing outsourced and casual workers to join trade unions and benefit from collective bargaining agreements at their workplaces. COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli said the ruling would end discrimination between permanent and outsourced employees and improve wages and working conditions.
17 June 2026 · The Standard →
The Consumers Federation of Kenya has filed a constitutional petition seeking to halt enforcement of enhanced NSSF contribution rates, arguing the directive is unconstitutional and defies a Court of Appeal ruling. COFEK wants employers to revert to a flat monthly contribution of Sh200 pending the appeal hearing.
16 June 2026 · The Standard →
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions has criticized former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for what it calls "unwarranted and reckless attacks" on Kenya's labour movement and leadership, saying he has no authority in workers' affairs. COTU also clarified that Francis Atwoli's endorsement of President William Ruto was a personal view, not the union's official position.
6 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has clarified that the 12 per cent wage increase announced by President William Ruto during Labour Day celebrations in Vihiga County is a general wage adjustment, not a minimum wage increment.
3 May 2026 · The Standard →
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 →
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has called for urgent reforms in service delivery and urban planning in Nairobi under Governor Johnson Sakaja, saying the capital is disorganised and not functioning effectively despite its status as the country's economic hub. Atwoli also called for accountability and transparency in governance, and stressed that an agreed 23 per cent salary increase for workers should be implemented without delay.
27 April 2026 · The Standard →