Also known as: COTU SG Francis Atwoli · COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli · COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli · COTU boss · Secretary General Francis Atwoli · Dr. Francis Atwoli · COTU boss Atwoli · Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli · Dr Francis Atwoli · Mr Francis Atwoli
COTU Secretary-General who has weighed in on labour issues, union governance, and 2027 political ambitions ahead of the General Election.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Francis Atwoli
Every mention in the Kenyan press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
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Citizen Digital
… There are existing laws in this country, and everybody must adhere to those laws," said COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli. …
NCIC puts on notice political leaders spreading hate speech and divisionThe Standard
… He’s troubled by COTU boss Francis Atwoli’s shift from defending workers to government cheer-leading. …
To prosper, our country needs truly value-driven citizenryThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeCOTU secretary general Francis Atwoli during a press briefing in Nairobi, June, 17, 2026. …
COTU hails landmark court ruling protecting outsourced workersCapital News
… Francis Atwoli said the workers’ umbrella body had taken note of a recent Court of Appeal decision relating to the NSSF Act but maintained that the enhanced contribution rates remain valid and enforceable. …
COTU: Workers Will Continue Paying Enhanced NSSF Contributions, despite court rulingCitizen Digital
Atwoli blames Uhuru for Raila’s 2022 loss, says he never delivered Ksh.400M for agents By Citizen Reporter May 30, 2026 02:13 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize The Central Organization of Tr …
Atwoli blames Uhuru for Raila’s 2022 loss, says he never delivered Ksh.400M for agentsCitizen Digital
… He warned against criticism directed at Atwoli, suggesting a close family connection between them. …
George Wajackoyah reaffirms hemp agenda, says 'That Is Where the Money is'Citizen Digital
… Business leaders, led by Emma Wambui, echoed the call for unity and vigilance. “Let’s be each other’s keeper and work together,” she said.Speaking in Ndia, Kirinyaga County, during the burial of Nelson Mwaniki, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli warned youth against being hire …
Kirinyaga: Eight arrested over looting during matatu strike as police intensify crackdownCitizen Digital
Atwoli hits out at Gachagua, says he has no record worth emulating By Allan Obiero May 10, 2026 03:36 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has hit out at D …
Atwoli hits out at Gachagua, says he has no record worth emulatingCitizen Digital
COTU hits back at Gachagua over ‘reckless attacks’ on labour movement By Willy Lusige May 06, 2026 08:00 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli speaks during an interview on C …
COTU hits back at Gachagua over ‘reckless attacks’ on labour movementCapital News
… COTU mounted a firm defense of its Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, highlighting his history of arrests, harassment, and activism in defense of workers’ rights. …
COTU Slams Gachagua Over “Reckless Attacks” on Trade UnionsLabour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has appointed COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli to the National Board for Social Protection for a three-year term, alongside Kenneth Odire and Richard Mativu Musau, under the Social Protection Act, 2025.
25 October 2026 · Capital News →
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has appointed COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli to the National Board for Social Protection for a three-year term, alongside Kenneth Odire and Richard Mativu Musau, under the Social Protection Act, 2025.
25 October 2026 · Capital News →
Government-leaning leaders under a broad-based government arrangement have intensified campaigns to rally support for President William Ruto's re-election bid ahead of the 2027 General Election. ODM, led by party National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, campaigned in Turkana North and Lodwar while a separate Kenya Kwanza team traversed Western Kenya, with ODM leaders vowing the party remains united and committed to working with Ruto.
23 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has dismissed Senator Edwin Sifuna's presidential ambitions, arguing that young politicians should build political networks before pursuing national campaigns and cautioning against alliances driven by personal business interests.
22 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
President William Ruto announced a proposal to exempt Kenyan workers earning Ksh.32,333 per month from PAYE income tax, which will be presented to Parliament next week. The Central Organization of Trade Unions praised the move as a measure to ease the tax burden on low-income earners.
21 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Central Organization of Trade Unions has urged political leaders to stop attacking the effectiveness of the National Social Security Fund, alleging that subjective oversight and unsubstantiated accusations risk destroying public confidence in the institution that millions of Kenyan workers depend on for retirement security.
19 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions has warned that MPs are making unsubstantiated allegations against the National Social Security Fund that could jeopardise workers' retirement savings and discourage saving. COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli said parliamentary oversight should not become a platform for sweeping accusations against the institution entrusted with workers' contributions.
19 October 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece recalls Raila Odinga as a man who appreciated ordinary life and conversations despite his political prominence, including time with childhood friends in village bars and at parliamentary social spaces.
15 October 2026 · The Standard →
The Central Organization of Trade Unions has refuted allegations that it interfered in the internal leadership affairs of KUDHEIHA, with Secretary-General Francis Atwoli calling such claims misleading and calculated to divert attention from constitutional breaches. The dispute follows union elections held on October 6, 2026.
9 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions has asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to investigate alleged financial and governance irregularities at the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers, amid a dispute over its leadership following the death of its former general secretary. COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli said the federation sought investigation into possible irregularities involving union records, finances, leadership changes, and the authenticity of documents and signatures used in the leadership dispute.
9 October 2026 · Capital News →
COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has called on young Kenyans to reject political messages rooted in hatred and division, attributing the country's current calm to responsible leadership and urging them to safeguard peace ahead of the 2027 General Election.
8 October 2026 · Capital News →
COTU secretary-general Francis Atwoli has called for the amalgamation of trade unions representing workers in Kenya's water sector, warning that the existence of multiple unions weakens employees' bargaining power and could expose them to exploitation. Atwoli noted that about three unions currently claim leadership in water institutions, saying the divisions have weakened workers' collective approach to labour issues.
1 October 2026 · The Standard →
COTU-K Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of repeatedly invoking his name to remain politically relevant, stating that Gachagua has granted over 200 interviews during the past eight months while Atwoli's last interview with Jeff Koinange was on January 7.
26 September 2026 · Capital News →
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli argued that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna needs more experience, stronger structures, and a wider national network before seeking Kenya's presidency, saying he must "go through stages" and "suffer" to understand how the economy works and the problems facing ordinary Kenyans.
21 September 2026 · The Standard →
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli told Citizen TV that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's presidential ambitions are premature, arguing that he must go through stages and gain broader experience before leading Kenya.
20 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has called for constitutional amendments to return management of health and land from county governments to the national government, arguing that devolution has exposed these sectors to persistent management challenges and that many counties lack the financial and administrative capacity to effectively manage them.
8 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
A Western Kenya leaders' caucus convened by Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has demanded the Deputy President position in President William Ruto's post-2027 administration while backing his re-election, signalling a clash with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi's camp.
7 September 2026 · Capital News →
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said he would run as Edwin Sifuna's running mate if the Nairobi senator has the strongest numbers to beat President Ruto in 2027, and suggested opposition leaders should prioritise electoral mathematics over personal ambitions when forming their ticket.
6 September 2026 · Capital News →
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has backed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's presidential ambitions for 2027, saying age should not prevent young leaders from seeking the top seat and describing Sifuna as one of the serious contenders. Gachagua said he has no problem either deputising Sifuna or Sifuna deputising him, and pushed back against COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli's suggestion that the 44-year-old Sifuna is too young to run.
6 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said he would be willing to become Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's running mate in 2027 if political calculations show Sifuna is the opposition candidate most capable of defeating President William Ruto. Gachagua argued the opposition should prioritize defeating Ruto by selecting the candidate with strongest nationwide support, regardless of seniority or personal ambition.
6 September 2026 · The Standard →
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli told Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna that his time to seek the presidency has not yet arrived, saying he is not adequately prepared for a national campaign and should focus on building his political team first.
5 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU)-Kenya has called for "respect" to workers' rights, stating there is a need for industrial peace founded on respect for workers' rights, effective social dialogue, and full implementation and negotiation of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
2 September 2026 · The Standard →
COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli says the country has no serious opposition without the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and called on opposition leaders to accept that Raila was the force holding the opposition together. Atwoli endorsed President William Ruto's leadership and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
30 August 2026 · Capital News →
Albert Njeru Obed, Treasurer General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) and Secretary General of KUDHEIHA, has died following a short illness. COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli described Njeru as a dedicated trade unionist committed to workers' welfare and dignity.
30 August 2026 · Capital News →
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to launch a crackdown on political goons used by politicians to disrupt rallies and instil fear, telling him to deploy the same energy used to tackle banditry in the North Rift. Kindiki also told Murkomen not to spare government-allied leaders who hire goons to intimidate rivals.
30 August 2026 · The Standard →
Albert Njeru, Treasurer General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions and Secretary General of KUDHEIHA, died on Saturday, August 29, after a short illness. He had served as KUDHEIHA Secretary General for 19 years and as COTU Treasurer for five months.
29 August 2026 · The Standard →
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has cautioned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over unsubstantiated claims regarding the IEBC's procurement of the Integrated Elections Management System, saying such attacks risk destabilising the country ahead of the 2027 General Election.
27 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Central Organization of Trade Unions has cautioned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua against compromising the IEBC's independence, after he alleged the commission's tender for an election management system had been predetermined in favour of a South Korean firm and called for retention of Smartmatic as the provider. COTU-K Secretary General Francis Atwoli said Gachagua's claims, made without evidence, risk destabilizing the country ahead of 2027 and risk laying the foundation for rejecting the election outcome in advance.
27 August 2026 · The Standard →
COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta of trying to divide the Western region by backing Linda Mwananchi leader Edwin Sifuna for president in 2027, comparing it to Uhuru's failed effort to make Raila Odinga president in 2022. Atwoli urged the Mulembe community to remain united and vigilant against manipulation.
25 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Senator Edwin Sifuna's 2027 presidential ambition has unsettled Luhya's established political order, challenging the old guard's preference to defer the community's presidential hopes to 2032. His message that Luhyas should seek the presidency now rather than negotiate for later is resonating with younger voters impatient with elite-driven politics.
25 August 2026 · The Standard →
Newly elected Dock Workers Union general secretary Abubakar Abdillahi and his team took office this week and said initial investigation found Sh82 million irregularly withdrawn from one of three union accounts. The matter has been reported to police, and the team has commissioned a comprehensive audit to recover missing funds.
22 August 2026 · The Standard →