They’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone – Atwoli Fires Back at Critics Defends Tenure at COTU
The Secretary General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), Francis Atwoli, has responded to public criticism over his long-standing leadership and perceived closeness to the government. In a detailed opinion published in The Weekly Review by Daily Nation, Atwoli addressed the backlash, defending his record and highlighting his contributions to Kenya’s labour movement.
Atwoli, who has led COTU since 2001, has come under increasing scrutiny, particularly on social media, where calls for his resignation have gained traction. Critics have pointed to his prolonged tenure and collaboration with successive governments as signs of compromised independence.
In his column, Atwoli maintained that his leadership has been instrumental in transforming trade unionism in Kenya. He argued that his relationship with the state should be viewed not as complicity, but as a strategic approach that has yielded tangible gains for workers.
He noted that criticism of leaders while in office is a recurring pattern in Kenya, often followed by posthumous or retrospective praise. Drawing parallels with former presidents, he suggested that his legacy, too, would be more appreciated once he leaves office.
“There was a tense, hostile, and combative relationship between trade unions, the government, and employers in the past,” Atwoli wrote. “Understandably, some journalists still romanticise this age and period when unions were militant, while failing to recognise the evolution of modern-day trade unionism.”
He added that many journalists and critics fail to grasp the shift from confrontational tactics to more strategic and collaborative methods within the trade union movement. Atwoli suggested that the expectations of militancy are outdated in the context of a modern, complex labour environment.
He argued that historical revisionism has become common in Kenya’s political discourse. According to Atwoli, leaders such as Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and Uhuru Kenyatta were heavily criticised during their time in power but later praised for their leadership once they exited office.
“I have seen Kenyans repeatedly criticise their presidents while in office, only to later praise them after they leave power,” he wrote. “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.”
Atwoli also highlighted his administration’s policy achievements as evidence of effective leadership. He pointed to the 2007 adoption of five progressive labour laws as a landmark reform for Kenya’s labour sector. These laws, he said, replaced outdated legislation and introduced a framework better aligned with workers’ rights and welfare.
“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.
He noted that these reforms established a foundation for modern industrial relations, promoting dialogue among workers, employers, and the government. He further emphasised that these legal changes were not gifts from the state, but the result of sustained advocacy by COTU.
“These gains were not handed to us,” he wrote. “They were achieved through relentless lobbying, advocacy, and mobilisation.”
Atwoli also described how the scope of trade union work has broadened significantly over the past two decades. Modern trade unionism, he said, must address a wide range of issues beyond wages and working conditions.
He cited concerns such as social protection, globalisation, the impact of technology and artificial intelligence, gender equality, youth unemployment, climate change, and sustainability. These challenges, he argued, require unions to adopt a more collaborative and strategic approach in order to remain effective.
“Present-day trade unions have a wider scope of concerns,” he wrote. “This expansion of focus has underscored the need for trade unions to adopt a more collaborative approach.”
Atwoli’s remarks appear to be part of a broader attempt to shape the narrative around his legacy and the future of labour relations in Kenya. While he did not confirm whether he plans to step down, his comments suggest an awareness of the growing demand for leadership renewal within COTU.
Nonetheless, Atwoli remained confident that his work would be better appreciated with time. He insisted that those who currently criticise him may one day acknowledge his contributions to the labour movement.
“History has a way of vindicating leaders,” he said. “When people look back, they will understand the value of the decisions we made and the battles we fought.”
In closing, Atwoli called for a more nuanced understanding of trade unionism in the 21st century. He urged critics, particularly those in the media, to consider the complexities involved in labour leadership today and to move beyond outdated perceptions of what union activism should look like.
“The world has changed, and trade unions must evolve with it,” he concluded.
As the debate around Atwoli’s leadership continues, it remains to be seen whether he will seek another term or step aside. What is clear, however, is that he intends to leave a legacy defined by institutional reform and strategic engagement rather than confrontation.
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They’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone – Atwoli Fires Back at Critics Defends Tenure at COTU
