By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, January 17, 2026 - Veteran trade unionist Francis Atwoli has once again tightened his grip on Kenya’s labour movement after being re-appointed unopposed as General Secretary of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) for another five-year term.
The decision was made during KPAWU’s Quinquennial Conference held at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu, where delegates unanimously endorsed Atwoli’s continued leadership of the union that represents thousands of agricultural workers across the country.
Speaking after the announcement, Atwoli described the outcome as a strong vote of confidence from union members.
“I want to thank the members of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) for re-electing me unopposed for another five-year term to the position of General Secretary,” he said.
“With this re-election, and the endorsement to contest for the position of Secretary General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Kenya), COTU-K, I affirm my commitment to advancing workers’ interests and improving their welfare.”
KPAWU is Kenya’s largest union for plantation and agricultural workers, covering sectors such as tea, coffee, floriculture and other plantation-based industries. It is also a key affiliate of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K), the national umbrella body for organised labour.
Atwoli’s re-appointment comes at a politically significant moment. He is preparing to defend his position as COTU-K Secretary General, a seat he has held since 2001. Earlier this month, he received unanimous backing from 42 secretary generals of COTU-affiliated unions to seek a sixth term in elections expected in August.
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Having served as KPAWU General Secretary since 1994, Atwoli has become one of the most recognisable faces of labour activism in Kenya. Under his leadership, COTU-K’s membership has grown dramatically from about 300,000 workers to more than four million, cementing its influence in national policy debates.
He is widely credited with pushing for the inclusion of labour rights in the 2010 Constitution, a move that strengthened legal protections for workers beyond policy promises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Atwoli also played a key role in negotiating relief measures with the government, including the reduction of VAT from 16 per cent to 14 per cent and tax exemptions for low-income earners.
Within KPAWU, he has consistently championed better pay and working conditions for agricultural labourers through collective bargaining agreements. In 2020 alone, some workers secured pay rises of up to 31 per cent following negotiations led by the union.
Atwoli’s influence extends well beyond Kenya’s borders. In June 2025, he was unanimously re-elected as Deputy President of the Commonwealth Trade Union Group (CTUG). He has also served four consecutive terms on the International Labour Organisation Governing Body and currently holds several senior positions within African and global trade union movements.
As he balances domestic union politics with international labour leadership, Atwoli’s latest re-appointment signals continuity at KPAWU — and sets the stage for another high-stakes contest at the helm of Kenya’s labour movement.
