Nairobi, Kenya, Jan 17 — Veteran trade unionist Francis Atwoli has been re-appointed unopposed as Secretary General of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union for another five-year term, consolidating his influence in the labour movement as he prepares to seek a sixth term at the national trade union body.
The reappointment was confirmed during KPAWU’s Quinquennial Conference held at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu, where delegates endorsed Atwoli’s leadership without contest. Union officials described the process as orderly and transparent, reflecting broad internal consensus.
In a statement following the vote, Atwoli thanked KPAWU members for renewing his mandate, saying the unopposed outcome demonstrated confidence in his leadership and long-standing advocacy for workers’ rights. He reaffirmed his commitment to improving labour welfare and strengthening representation for plantation and agricultural workers.
KPAWU is Kenya’s principal trade union representing workers in tea, coffee, flower farms, and other plantation-based industries. The union plays a central role in collective bargaining and labour policy advocacy, particularly in rural and export-oriented sectors of the economy.
The union is affiliated to the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K), Kenya’s umbrella organisation for organised labour. Atwoli’s renewed mandate at KPAWU comes as he prepares to defend his position as COTU-K Secretary General, a post he has held for decades.
Earlier this month, Atwoli received unanimous endorsement from 42 secretary generals of COTU-affiliated unions to contest for a sixth term at the helm of COTU-K. Supporters say his experience has provided continuity and stability in labour relations, while also elevating Kenya’s voice in regional and global labour forums.
Beyond Kenya, Atwoli remains influential on the international stage. In June 2025, he was unanimously re-elected as Deputy President of the Commonwealth Trade Union Group, which brings together trade union centres from more than 40 Commonwealth countries.
As preparations begin for upcoming COTU-K elections, Atwoli’s uncontested reappointment at KPAWU strengthens his position ahead of the national contest, reinforcing his standing as one of the most enduring figures in Kenya’s trade union movement.
