Cotu boss Francis Atwoli re-elected for a fifth term
Friday April 09 2021
By VICTOR RABALLA
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has been given a fresh mandate to lead the umbrella union after he was re-elected unopposed for a fifth term.
Mr Atwoli, who was first elected to the helm of the union in 2001, had a smooth sail after his only challenger and Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) Secretary General Seth Panyako was barred from the race for not being a bona fide member of Cotu.
All the 34 members of the secretariat and executive board were elected unopposed in an election which was held at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on Friday.
Atwoli Elected Unopposed for 5th Term as COTU Boss
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli during a past Labour Day celebration
File
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has been re-elected for the fifth term unopposed after his main challenger Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) secretary-general Seth Panyako was barred from the race for not being a bona fide member of the union.
The exercise was held by delegates at the Tom Mboya Labour college, Kisumu County. Atwoli will now serve for another five years until 2026.
In a statement posted on Twitter on Friday, April 9, the unionist expressed his gratitude to the Kenyan workers for electing him through their registered Trade Union Representatives.
All the 34 members of the secretariat and executive board were elected unopposed in an election which was conducted at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu and presided over by an official from the Ministry of Labour on Friday.
Mr Atwoli, in his acceptance speech, thanked the 250 delegates for having faith in his leadership and reinstating him at the helm of the vibrant labour union.
“Through my election, I commit to always champion for the rights of workers and I will not be cowed,” he said.
“Now that your effort to defend the rights of your workers have been paid through your reelection,” he told the delegates, “you should not tire to stand with what is always right and reject any kind of oppression.”
Education Ministry Changes Opening Dates for Colleges
7 April 2021 - 9:32 am
Education CS Prof George Magoha assesses the resumption of learning at Muchonoke Secondary School in Embu County on Friday, January 15, 2021
Twitter
The Ministry of Education headed by CS George Magoha has made changes to opening dates for colleges ahead of upcoming examinations in July.
In a circular, Principal Secretary Margaret Mwakima directed that online learning in all Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges would kick off on Tuesday, April 6.
This was a review of an earlier set date of April 26.
She explained that the alteration was made in order to accommodate the upcoming Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) tests scheduled for July.