Africa-Press – Kenya. The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, has said that Kenyans will miss him if he decides to step down from his long-held position at the helm of the trade union.
Responding to recent criticism over his dalliance with the government and prolonged leadership at COTU via a column in Daily Nation’s The Weekly Review on Sunday, Atwoli defended his tenure, noting that Kenyans often criticise leaders while in office, only to appreciate their contributions after they leave.
Atwoli, who has been at the helm of COTU since 2001 and has been the subject of media headlines after Kenyans on social media called for his resignation from his role, also lashed out at journalists, who instead have not grasped the evolution of trade unionism.
The SG, while drawing a comparison with how trade unions were militant like in the earlier years of independence, indicated that his dalliance will likely be praised once he exits the union.
He maintained that former Presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and, most recently, Uhuru Kenyatta were subjects of ridicule while at the helm of their leadership positions, only to be praised years later after their exit.
“There was a tense, hostile, and combative relationship between trade unions, the government, and employers. Understandably, some journalists still romanticise this age and period when unions were militant while failing to recognise the evolution of modern-day trade unionism. Without casting aspersions on anyone, it is human nature to always romanticise history,” Atwoli wrote.
“For instance, I have seen Kenyans repeatedly criticise their presidents while in office, only to later praise the heads of state after they leave power. This happened with Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and most recently, Uhuru Kenyatta. Each, once vilified, was in hindsight eventually reimagined as a great leader.”
Meanwhile, Atwoli maintained that his dalliance with the state has played a key role in transforming the labour movement in Kenya.
He pointed to the adoption of five progressive labour laws as a major milestone, noting that, unlike the previous archaic legislation, the new legal framework was more aligned with the rights and welfare of workers.
“It is important to simplify the developments and what I have since noted as modern trade unionism in the context of history. In 2007, just six years after my ascension to the helm of COTU, Kenya adopted the five sets of labour laws that were, unlike the previous archaic ones, worker-centric,” Atwoli stated.
“Collectively, these laws ushered in a period of dialogue and modern industrial relations that recognised the key role played by workers.”
He added that achieving these reforms required relentless lobbying, advocacy, and mobilisation by COTU, dismissing the notion that the gains were freely given.
“Moreover, present-day trade unions have a wider scope of concerns, including social protection, trade and globalisation, technology and artificial intelligence, gender equality and youth employment, as well as climate and sustainability concerns. This expansion of focus has underscored the need for trade unions to adopt a more collaborative approach,” he added.
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