Joel Kandie elected COTU chairman

By Peter Ochieng

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) has a new Chairman General.

Reverend Joel Kandie Chebii is the new sheriff in town, having been elected on Friday during COTU-K’s 111th Executive Board meeting.

He replaces Rajabu Mwondi who died in Augustl, 2023. Mwondi died while receiving treatment at the Agha Khan Hospital, in Kisumu on August 17.

COTU-K Secretary General Francis Atwoli in a statement on Friday said Chebii has served the trade union for more than four decades. He currently holds the position of General Secretary of the Tiles and Textile Workers Union.

During the meeting, Wycliffe Nyamwatta was elected as the 2nd Vice Chairman General of COTU (K). Atwoli challenged elected leaders to remain united in a bid to effectively champion for workers’ rights.

“Stability is key to any organization and, as COTU (K), we shall continue ensuring that the Union is united and stable so as to serve Kenyan workers,” he said.

“COTU (K), which is affiliated with the ITUC-Africa, is privileged to host the 5th Congress of the ITUC this year whereby more than 500 Delegates (from across Africa and outside Africa), including Trade Unionists and leaders in the Labour Movement," Atwoli said of the upcoming congress. 

The congress will be held from November 28th – 30th, 2023, at the Safari Park hotel in Nairobi. “The participants of the will come together to, foremost, discuss the future of Labour in Africa and the role of trade unions in shaping and facilitating the attainment of a better Africa,” added the long serving COTU Secretary General.

This week, Francis Atwoli was appointed a member of the new Social Health Authority (SHA).