Francis Atwoli, the long-serving Secretary-General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), has signalled that his time in leadership may be drawing to a close.
Speaking during the burial of George Oduor, a longtime bodyguard to Raila Odinga, Atwoli hinted at retirement, stating that President William Ruto could be the last head of state he serves under.
“I have had the opportunity to serve all Presidents of Kenya since independence,” Atwoli said. “I have seen the government of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the founding father of this nation; I have seen Mzee Daniel Moi’s government, who we were with for 24 years; I have seen the government of Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, and yours (William Ruto). Maybe your government will be the last I serve under before I return to Khwisero.”
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Atwoli, who has led COTU since 2001, took time to reflect on his decades-long journey in labour leadership, highlighting both the privilege and responsibility of serving under every Kenyan president.
He lauded President Ruto for attending the funeral of George Oduor, noting that such gestures were not always common among past leaders.
“To speak the truth, not all presidents I’ve served would have come to the funeral of someone like George,” he said.
Atwoli praised Ruto’s leadership and urged Kenyans, especially workers, to rally behind the government’s economic agenda.
While he didn’t announce an official retirement date, his remarks carried the weight of a man reflecting on a legacy — and what lies ahead.
Beyond COTU, Atwoli also serves as the General Secretary of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU), Chairman of the East African Trade Union Confederation (EATUC), President of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU), and Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the world’s largest trade union federation.
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