Atwoli joins calls for intergenerational dialogue

President William Ruto interacts with COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli during the 60th Labour Day Celebrations at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi on May 1, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has appealed for national dialogue, warning that continued political incitement and street demonstrations could plunge the country into chaos. Atwoli, who officially opened a two-day International Trade Union Confederation symposium in Nairobi on Friday, said that Kenya is on dangerous path and the only way to protect the country's future is through open dialogue and listening. The veteran unionist urged leaders to take responsibility and bring Kenyans to the table, as the country risks slipping into chaos. "This is the right time to talk to each other. Young people started with a genuine call for their rights, but the protests have turned violent. If we are not careful, what has happened in Somalia will happen here," he said. He stressed that Kenya's history of peace, economic leadership in East Africa, and political maturity must not be thrown away because of the protests that have been hijacked by some politicians and the failure to engage in honest conversations. However, the COTU boss recognised the power and legitimacy of the protests driven by Kenya's Gen Z, saying that they represent a generation that is highly educated, digitally connected, and no longer willing to wait quietly for help that never comes. "They are not criminals. They are your sons and daughters. They went to school. They see the corruption. They see the games being played. And they are saying, enough. But instead of being invited to the table, they are being met with bullets and silence," he said. He urged the government not to make the mistake of ignoring this generation or silencing them with state force, and instead listen to them. Describing the dialogue as a process of respect, compromise and inclusion and not for threats. "If the youth are calling out, the responsible thing to do is to listen, not to respond with guns or insults. If we shut them out now, they will come back louder and angrier," he said. "The government must stop seeing protesters as enemies, and the youth must stop seeing the government as a monster. There must be a middle ground. There must be honesty," he added. He also criticised political leaders who view dialogue as a sign of weakness, arguing that dialogue is the highest form of leadership. While defending the rights of youth to demonstrate, Atwoli emphasised that protests are not a long-term solution. He urged young people to also embrace constructive engagement, saying protests must be followed by conversations that lead to real policy change. "You can't protest forever. You have to talk. You have to present solutions. You have to negotiate. Demonstrations can bring attention, but dialogue brings results," he said. Atwoli also condemned utterances by Wajir Women Representative Fatuma Jehow on rigging the 2027 elections as he called for a free and fair election in respect to the constitution. "You will hear some politicians saying that even if they don't win, they will be able to win. If you rig yourself into leadership, then you are causing problems for those people who want fair and free elections," he said. He also addressed the exploitation of African workers in the Middle East, singling out Saudi Arabia, condemning what he described as modern-day slavery in the guise of overseas employment. Atwoli urged the Kenyan government to disband the National Employment Authority and convert it into a department under the Ministry of Labour to ensure oversight and transparency in labour migration. "We must stand for Africa. I have told our government that it must not support the illegal slavery of our young men and women in Saudi Arabia. I have asked our government to disband the National Employment Authority and make it a department of the Ministry of Labour," he said.

Atwoli joins calls for intergenerational dialogue

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