Francis Atwoli re-elected unopposed as KPAWU General Secretary

The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has been elected as the General Secretary of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU).

In the elections held on Saturday at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu, Atwoli was returned unopposed to continue leading the union.

Atwoli, who is also the long-serving COTU boss, was first elected as KPAWU General Secretary in 1994 and has held the position continuously for more than three decades.

His tenure, according to a statement released on Saturday, has been marked by what the union describes as consistent and transformative leadership.

“Under his stewardship, KPAWU has grown from less than 20,000 members into one of the largest trade unions in the region, currently boasting a membership of over 650,000 workers across the plantation and agricultural sectors, with more than 30 active Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) covering its members,” read the statement from COTU.

In his acceptance speech, Atwoli expressed gratitude to KPAWU members for their “never-fading” confidence in his leadership and the trust they have placed in him over the years.

He reaffirmed the union’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights and advancing their welfare in what he described as an increasingly dynamic labour market.

Dr. Atwoli further stated that all existing and future CBAs negotiated by KPAWU would continue to prioritize gratuity as a central component of workers’ benefits, emphasizing the union’s focus on dignity, security and fairness for its members.

“The re-election reflects the strong confidence of plantation and agricultural workers in Atwoli’s leadership and vision, as KPAWU continues to champion decent work, fair labour practices, and improved living standards for workers across Kenya,” added the statement.