Court Petition Filed to Block Francis Atwoli’s Sixth Term as COTU SG

A court petition has been filed questioning the recent re-election of veteran Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) leader Francis Atwoli, who secured a sixth consecutive term.

The petitioners claim that the election did not follow the legally required schedule for union elections. They also argue that some labour unions were left out of the voting process, making the poll unfair.

Atwoli was re-elected unopposed during a gathering at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The event saw hundreds of workers in attendance.

Having led COTU-K since 2001, Atwoli now begins his sixth term as head of Kenya’s largest labour federation. The meeting included around 250 delegates, representing 47 affiliated workers’ unions.

Despite his long tenure, Atwoli’s leadership has faced criticism in recent months. Some voices within the labour movement have called for fresh leadership and new ideas to guide COTU-K.

Earlier this year, on January 17, 2026, Atwoli was also re-elected unopposed as General Secretary of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU), securing another five-year term.

Over the years, Atwoli has significantly expanded the labour movement. Membership in COTU-K has grown from roughly 300,000 workers to over four million, making it one of the most influential labour organisations in Kenya. Today, COTU-K includes 45 affiliated unions and is actively involved in representing workers in major national institutions such as NSSF, SHA, and NITA.

The petitioners, Fazul Mahamed and the Institute for Democratic Governance, argue that the March 14 election was held prematurely. They are asking the court to declare the election null and void, prevent the Registrar of Trade Unions from publishing the results, and stop the newly elected leaders from taking office.