Veteran unionist Francis Atwoli has been reelected as the Secretary-General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU).
Atwoli was elected unopposed early Friday morning, April 9, for another term at the helm of the powerful trade union in a tightly secured environment.
The trade unions also elected Rajab Mwondi as the Cotu chairman with Joel Chebii as his deputy in the election held on Thursday by representatives of umbrella trade unions.
Benson Okwaro was also picked as Atwoli’s deputy and joins Cotu’s top governing body that has 34 members.
The election was held at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu County.
But Atwoli’s rival, Seth Panyako, has threatened to file a suit to nullify the election.
“The election was a sham. I can assure you that the court will cancel that election. Atwoli locked me outside. He is the one who vetted who applied and appointed the delegates. How can you have an election of that kind?” posed Panyako, who leads the Kenya National Union of Nurses.
Speaking after his re-election, Atwoli vowed to serve workers with diligence.
