As an 18-year-old working for the postal and telecommunications organisation, Francis Atwoli had no idea that his first step into representing his fellow workers would transform his life and place him in leadership for more than half a century. Today, the name Francis Atwoli is firmly established in Kenya’s labour movement. For 25 years, he has led the Central Organisation of Trade Unions–Kenya (Cotu-K), serving through different presidential administrations and economic upheavals that have transformed the lives of millions of Kenyans. And in March this year, workers made it clear that they were not yet ready for him to leave. Atwoli was elected unopposed for his sixth five-year term during the Cotu delegates’ conference held at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu. His new term will run until 2031. For a man who has been at the helm of the organisation since 2001, the election was more than just another victory. It was a reaffirmation of the strength of his leadership within Kenya’s labour movement. But behind the Atwoli name lies a long and remarkable journey. His involvement in trade unionism began shortly after completing secondary school. He was employed by the East African Posts and Telecommunications Administration at the age of 18. Within just two months, he was elected unopposed as a workers’ representative at the Nairobi branch of the Union of Posts and Telecommunications Employees. At 21, he was elected Nairobi branch secretary. That marked the beginning of his long and increasingly influential journey in the labour movement. In 1967, he formally joined the trade union movement, a milestone later highlighted by Cotu when he marked 50 years in the labour movement in 2017. For Atwoli, leadership was never simply about holding a position. It was about giving workers the ability to defend their rights and interests. He was later sent to Italy to study labour relations at the Turin College of Labour Studies, where he broadened his understanding of the global workers’ movement. Upon returning to Kenya, he continued with trade union activities. Eventually, his activism cost him his job. According to his Cotu profile, he was retired from employment in 1986 over what was described as his involvement in trade union activities. But leaving employment did not bring his journey to an end. Instead, it opened the door to another chapter. Atwoli later became Secretary-General of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU). He established himself as a powerful voice in the agricultural sector, particularly on issues affecting plantation and farm workers. By 2001, he had built considerable influence within Kenya’s labour movement. That year, the rhumba-loving trade unionist was elected Secretary-General of Cotu after securing the backing of 26 of the 29 unions affiliated with the organisation. That marked the beginning of the Atwoli era. Twenty-five years later, he remains in the position. Although Cotu is a workers’ organisation, Atwoli has never completely separated himself from Kenya’s political affairs. The federation worked alongside the opposition National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) in 2002, which supported Mwai Kibaki in the presidential election. Kibaki won the election, bringing an end to Kanu’s 40-year rule. Since then, Atwoli has remained a figure whose views on Kenyan politics are closely watched. He has supported or criticised governments depending on the issues at hand, while maintaining that Cotu must work with the government of the day in the interests of workers. At the same time, he has consistently maintained that Cotu is a workers’ organisation and not a political party. According to Cotu’s official position, its members are free to support different political parties, while the organisation engages with the government in power on matters affecting workers. This is one of the characteristics that makes Atwoli a unique figure in Kenya’s labour movement. He can criticise the government on one issue and support it on another, provided the matter concerns the interests of workers. Throughout his years at Cotu, wages and workers’ earnings have remained among his key priorities. Atwoli has consistently stressed the importance of a minimum wage that enables workers to live with dignity.