Francis Atwoli, Secretary-General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) in Kenya has been re-elected as the Vice President of International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) for a fourth time.

According to a press statement released on Monday 21st November,COTU Deputy Secretary-General, Benson Okwaro said Atwoli was re-elected during the ongoing trade union organization’s 5th Congress in Melbourne, Australia.

The Trade Union is the largest in the world with a membership of over 200 million drawn from 163 countries, with its headquarter in Brussels, Belgium.

As stated by Okwaro, he said: “Earlier on during the ongoing congress, Atwoli was elected, unopposed to the Seven-Member Credentials Committee”.

Atwoli, in his speech, heartfully appreciated his trade union colleagues for their continuous confidence in him to serve them. He said the “position bestowed on him is not an easy one but he will stand for their interests”.

Atwoli was also elected as a titular member to the General Council of the ITUC to represent the Eastern Africa Region. He was proposed for the position by a delegate from Tanzania and seconded by trade union leaders from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Mauritius.

Among those elected during the hotly contested ITUC elections were the Confederation’s General Secretary Luca Vasentini from Italy.

Since 2014 to date, Francis Atwoli has been the President of the Pan African Labour movement, and the Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU).