The election of Rev. Joel Kandie Chebii as the new Chairman General of the workers' body has been announced by Francis Atwoli, Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions-Kenya (COTU-K).

Rev. Kandie has served COTU for the past 40 years, according to Atwoli, who made this announcement to newsrooms on Friday. He is currently the general secretary of the Tiles and Textiles Union.

The longtime Chairman General Rajabu Wellington Mwondi passed away in August of this year while receiving treatment at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu. This led to the COTU Executive Board electing Rev. Kandie.

In a related announcement, Atwoli stated that Wycliffe Nyamwatta, a 20-year board member of COTU, had been elected as the union's second vice chairman general.


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He continued by pleading with the recently elected officials to keep fighting for the advancement of the rights and welfare of Kenyan workers.

"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.

The head of COTU also updated the attendees on the ongoing arrangements to ensure the success of the 5th Congress of the International Confederation of Trade Unions (Africa), also known as ITUC - Africa. ITUC - Africa is a Pan-African trade union organization with its headquarters in Togo, founded in November 2007 due to the merger of two previous African trade unions.


"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," said Atwoli.

"The participants 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."