I am an old man with wisdom; Atwoli tells off critics opposing his 23-year tenure at COTU

Speaking during the Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens on Wednesday, Atwoli remained bullish that he has laboured to restructure working conditions for Kenyan workers which have borne fruit.

Serving his 23rd year as the labour body's boss, he argued that despite his old age his competence has helped to better the rights of Kenyan workers.

"We are busy with employers in board rooms negotiating for good terms and conditions of service of our members," he said. 

"In my own union this year I signed more than 44 CBAs to cushion workers from the cost of living and some say ati Awoli amekaa tu pale ni mzee (Alwoli has stayed there for long). Ni mzee wa ujuzi, mzee wa kisasa."

This comes amid a tiff between the COTU boss and the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) Director-General Fazul Mohamed over the remittance of monthly deductions from all private security firms to the union.

Mohamed said that COTU had failed on its mandate to cater for the interests of its members and further, had persisted in disregarding, declining and neglecting to advocate for the rights of their members. 

In his rebuttal Atwoli “condemned” the directive as ill-advised and unfortunate, even calling for Mohamed's resignation over claims of forging his academic credentials to secure government employment.

Amid retirement claims in August 2022, Atwoli dismissed critics spreading the rumour, noting that his current term at COTU will be his last.

“Matters COTU (K) leadership is a COTU (K) constitutional issue and not an Atwoli issue. As of now, I am in office serving my last term.”

His prominence has also afforded him top leadership positions in different fronts.

In November 23, 2023, he was appointed as a member of the Social Health Authority (SHA) for a three-year term to oversee the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

Two days before that, on November 20, he was re-elected for the fourth term as Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

His nomination was unanimously approved by more than 2,000 delegates.

ITUC, domiciled in Brussels, Belgium, boasts a membership of over 200 million people drawn from 163 Countries.