Activists Challenge COTU Elections Over Transparency Concerns
By Editorial Team
A fresh storm has hit Kenya’s labour movement after activists raised sharp concerns over the transparency and legality of recent elections at the Central Organization of Trade Unions (Kenya).
The concerns were flagged by Mtetezi, a grassroots economic justice movement, which accused the union of failing to uphold constitutional principles of accountability and openness during its electoral process.
According to the group, a formal request submitted on November 4, 2025, seeking audited financial statements from 2021 to 2024, governance records, and election materials was ignored. The request had been made under Article 35 of the Constitution of Kenya and the Access to Information Act (Kenya).
However, the activists say the union neither acknowledged nor responded within the required timelines, and no explanation for the lack of disclosure has been provided to date.
The group argues that the absence of this information cast doubt over the credibility of the March 2026 delegates conference held in Kisumu, where elections were conducted.
They claim key details such as election timelines, delegate lists, nomination procedures, and oversight mechanisms were not made public before the vote.
Following the conference, veteran trade unionist Francis Atwoli was declared Secretary General, with the process of formal recognition of elected officials already underway.
But now, the activists have moved to court, filing a constitutional petition challenging both the failure to disclose information and the conduct of the elections.
The petition seeks a declaration that the refusal to provide access to financial and electoral records is unconstitutional and violates the right to information.
It also calls for the nullification of the elections, arguing they were conducted outside the law, and seeks orders to stop the recognition of the officials elected during the disputed process.
Further, the activists want the court to compel full disclosure of audited accounts, governance records, membership registers, and all election-related documents.
They are also pushing for fresh elections to be conducted under what they describe as a transparent, verifiable, and lawfully supervised framework.
Mtetezi says the case is aimed at reinforcing accountability within trade unions and protecting workers’ rights to actively participate in the governance of their institutions.
