COTU Boss Francis Atwoli Demands 23% Wage Hike, Warns of Rising Cost of Living Pressure
News Updated: 01 May 2026 22:15 EAT
President William Ruto and COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli during the 61st Labour Day Celebrations in Vihiga County
The Secretary General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), Francis Atwoli, was among the key speakers during the national Labour Day celebrations held in Vihiga County, where he delivered a detailed address touching on history, the economy and workers’ welfare.
Speaking at Chavakali High School, Atwoli opened by thanking President William Samoei Ruto for attending and presiding over the event. “First and foremost, Your Excellency, I take this opportunity to thank you for honoring our invitation to be the chief guest during this 61st Labour Day celebrations under the theme Kenya workers support the Northern Link, accelerating trade through the Rironi Malaba highway transformation,” he said.
He described the Vihiga celebrations as a historic milestone for the labour movement in Kenya. “Your Excellency, it is a very special Labour Day in our calendar because for the first time since 1965, we have through your support, your request and also the invitation from Vihiga County, held it outside Nairobi since the formation of COTU in 1965,” Atwoli stated.
Atwoli also acknowledged the government’s role in facilitating the event, particularly in terms of logistical support. “Equally, let me take this opportunity, Your Excellency, to thank you in person and your government for the immense support that you exhibited logistically to make sure we are here in Vihiga today,” he added.
The COTU boss placed Labour Day within its global historical context, tracing its origins to workers’ struggles in the United States. “The history of the labour movement is long, Your Excellency, because it dates back to 1st of May in 1886 in Haymarket in Chicago,” he said, referencing the Haymarket affair.
He recounted the violence that marked the protests and the sacrifices made by workers demanding better conditions. “Thousands and thousands of workers were clobbered when they were striking demanding an 8-hour working day, and then the employers could not understand them. They called the police and they used whatever available missiles and so many workers died on that day,” Atwoli said.
According to Atwoli, the events in Chicago triggered international solidarity that led to the recognition of Labour Day worldwide. “And this prompted a Paris meeting of labour leaders on 14th of June 1889 to declare this day an international workers’ Labour Day, which we celebrate here in Kenya,” he noted.
Turning to government policy, Atwoli praised President Ruto’s leadership, describing him as bold in pursuing transformative projects. “On behalf of Kenyan workers, allow me, Your Excellency, to thank you for your boldness. You are a bold president. You are very bold to come up with projects that most of the presidents shied away from,” he said.
He singled out the affordable housing programme as one of the administration’s most impactful initiatives. “One, Your Excellency, is affordable housing which has changed the face of the Republic of Kenya. You go everywhere; you land in Kisumu, it is unimaginable,” Atwoli remarked.
The labour leader also highlighted infrastructure expansion, particularly the Northern Corridor road projects and railway improvements. “The other one is the one that you have embarked on to make sure that from Rironi up to Malaba, and as you have been requested, it would be so good also to have a rail station at Luanda and we support that,” he said.
He further referenced ongoing expressway and railway development projects as key to economic growth. “That will be a wonderful project on the SGR side and on the new express highway that you are now working on from Rironi to Malaba,” Atwoli added.
On housing access, Atwoli welcomed the government’s decision to reduce the deposit requirement for affordable housing units. “You allowed us workers to apply to be apportioned, and you reduced the deposit from 10% to 5% for workers,” he said.
He urged that workers be recognised as stakeholders in the housing programme given their financial contributions. “Let these workers be part as owners because they are contributors of this beautiful, magnificent affordable houses throughout the republic,” Atwoli added.
Atwoli also turned his attention to pension reforms, commending the government for strengthening the National Social Security Fund. “Let me take this opportunity to thank you for the vision and leadership that you have exhibited towards making the National Social Security Fund a leading pension scheme in Africa,” he said.
He noted that the fund was playing a growing role in both social protection and infrastructure development. “That is responsive not only in eradicating old age poverty but also meeting the infrastructure demands,” Atwoli explained.
Drawing comparisons with regional peers, he cited Tanzania’s pension system as a benchmark. “Your Excellency, I used to admire Tanzania and NSSF because it came up with several government projects including putting up Parliament in Dodoma, police stations everywhere in Tanzania,” he said.
He added that Kenya’s NSSF was now achieving strong financial returns, positioning it among the best in the region. “In 2024 and 2025, the NSSF has recorded double-digit returns of 11% and 17%, making it one of the best well-managed workers’ funds in the region,” Atwoli stated.
On the economy, Atwoli acknowledged visible improvements in infrastructure and agricultural support. “Kenyans did not believe that you can stabilise our economy with signs of construction work across the country that we have witnessed and improvement in infrastructure and what we are seeing,” he said.
He also pointed to key economic indicators, noting that inflation remained relatively low despite rising costs. “While inflation remains low at 4.40%, the consumer price index in the country has risen to 150.0 points,” Atwoli observed.
However, he raised concern over increasing political activity, warning of its potential impact on stability and livelihoods. “Your Excellency, we as workers are very much concerned about the ongoing political rallies in this republic as if elections are there next week,” he said.
He cautioned that political unrest disproportionately affects vulnerable groups in society. “Political turmoil or strife, it is workers, women and children who suffer because they cannot fly out,” Atwoli added.
The COTU boss concluded by pressing for a significant increase in the minimum wage, making a direct appeal to the President. “Your Excellency, I am being reminded by my able personal assistant and techno technician on economy that if you gave us 23% minimum wage increase your government will be stable,” he said.
“At one time, President Mwai Kibaki gave us 22%, 18%, 14% minimum wage increase and things went on well. I know your hand is bigger than that one. May God bless you,” Atwoli declared, closing his speech with a pointed request for action.
Tags: Signs Signs Tv Signsmedia Signstv Signstvkenya Francis Atwoli Papa Francis Atwoli President William Ruto William Ruto Data mining Edit Editor's Pick Editors choice Factual data Felix Makona Get facts KBB KBB Kumi Bila Break Musalia Mudavadi Musalia Mudavadi Tutam
Share this article
FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD