COTU officials defends workers as Gachagua row shifts focus to livelihoods
By Peace Muthoka
At dawn in Kenya’s tea fields, pickers move quickly through the rows, racing against time and weather to earn a daily wage. In homes across the country, domestic workers begin long shifts that often stretch late into the night. For millions of workers, every policy decision and every political statement carries real weight.
It is this reality that the Central Organization of Trade Unions (Kenya) (COTU-K) says is being overlooked in a growing political clash with impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In a strongly worded response, COTU-K has pushed back against what it describes as reckless attacks on the labour movement, warning that such remarks risk undermining institutions that have long fought for workers’ rights.
Speaking on behalf of affiliated unions, Deputy Secretary General Benson Okwaro accused Gachagua of targeting the union, its Secretary General Francis Atwoli, and workers across the country without justification.
But beyond the sharp exchange of words, the union is drawing attention to the people at the centre of the debate the workers whose livelihoods depend on stable policies and strong representation.
Okwaro linked the latest tensions to recent Labour Day celebrations led by President William Ruto, where the government announced a 12 percent increase in general wages and a 15 percent rise for agricultural workers.
For many families, especially in rural areas, those increments mean more than numbers on paper. They translate into school fees paid on time, food on the table, and some relief from rising living costs.
COTU argues that such gains should unite leaders rather than divide them.
“Kenyan workers expect leaders to champion their rights, not attack institutions that defend them,” Okwaro said.
The union also dismissed calls by Gachagua to form a rival labour body, terming the idea unrealistic and disconnected from the realities of trade unionism.
According to COTU, the labour movement is built on decades of struggle, sacrifice, and organization far from what it described as “political kiosks” that can be created overnight.
That history runs deep. From the early 1900s to the formation of unions under colonial laws in 1937, Kenyan workers have fought for dignity, fair wages, and better working conditions.
Many union leaders, the organization noted, paid a personal price for those gains, facing arrests, harassment, and even imprisonment.
COTU pointed to Atwoli’s own record, recalling moments when he stood firm during workers’ strikes despite pressure from authorities.
For the union, this legacy stands in sharp contrast to what it called Gachagua’s recent remarks, which it described as lacking an understanding of labour struggles.
The statement also raised concern about growing political rhetoric that could divide workers along regional or political lines.
COTU warned that such narratives risk shifting focus away from pressing issues like wages, working conditions, and job security.
At the same time, the union defended ongoing efforts to strengthen labour protections, including plans to ratify international conventions on domestic workers and workplace harassment.
These measures, it said, are critical for safeguarding vulnerable workers who often operate without formal protections.
For a domestic worker in Nairobi or a farmhand in the highlands, such protections can mean the difference between exploitation and dignity.
COTU insisted that its mission remains clear despite the political noise.
The organization says it will continue to defend workers’ rights, push for fair labour practices, and promote unity across the workforce.
It also issued a warning that continued attacks on the labour movement will not be tolerated, urging leaders to focus on national interests rather than personal or political battles.
As the political exchange unfolds, the union is urging Kenyans not to lose sight of what truly matters.
Because behind every statement and every policy are millions of workers striving each day to earn a living and hoping that those in power will keep their interests at heart.
