Whistleblower Accounts Catch Atwoli Off Guard in COTU Sexual Harassment Allegations

The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), Kenya’s premier labor union tasked with championing workers’ rights, is under fire following explosive whistleblower allegations of systemic mismanagement, sexual harassment, and employee mistreatment.

The accusations, first brought to light by blogger Cyprian Nyakundi via an anonymous employee’s detailed exposé, have thrust COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli into an uncomfortable spotlight, prompting a swift rebuttal from the union boss.

A Damning Exposé

The whistleblower’s account, shared with Nyakundi and posted on X on March 22, 2025, paints a grim picture of life inside COTU.

The anonymous employee alleges that staff endure months-long salary delays with no explanation, while management continues to jet-set on business trips.

“The bosses are busy travelling as normal staff struggle with late salary payments, low payments, and biased promotions and salary increments,” the employee wrote.

More disturbingly, the whistleblower claims that dissent is met with ruthless reprisals. “Anyone who tries to speak out against these ills is fired without due procedure,” they stated, citing the recent dismissals of employees identified only as Irine, Selina, Jackline, Nnamdi, and Mike.

The employee also highlighted a mysterious SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative) scheme, alleging that staff are coerced into deductions for an entity with no known officials, location, or accountability. “We are over-deducted on issues we don’t even understand. We go home with nothing,” they lamented.

Perhaps the most shocking accusation is the pervasive sexual harassment targeting young female interns. According to the whistleblower, interns are either preyed upon by senior officials or have their attachments terminated if they resist.

“Young girls coming in for internship are being sexually harassed or have their attachments discontinued. The naive ones are being carried by the bosses everywhere they go for meetings — for their sexual pleasure,” the account reads. One specific case alleges that a friend was sacked after refusing advances from “a very old administrative secretary” who allegedly leverages stolen funds to coerce staff into sexual favors.

The whistleblower also recounted the fate of a new accountant, Mike, who was reportedly fired after uncovering payroll irregularities.

“When he started highlighting irregularities in the payroll and how funds were not being well accounted for, he was forced to go on compulsory leave and fired a few days later,” they claimed.

Adding to the intrigue, the employee referenced an unnamed boss with an active sexual harassment case in Brussels, hastily repatriated to Nairobi to avoid scrutiny.

Atwoli’s Defense

In a detailed response issued shortly after the allegations surfaced, Francis Atwoli dismissed the claims as “defamatory remarks aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the union.”

The outspoken COTU leader branded the whistleblower’s account as baseless and driven by personal vendetta, asserting that the organization remains committed to its employees’ welfare.

On the issue of salary delays, Atwoli insisted that payments are always made on time, with the exception of one incident involving an employee he accused of tampering with the payroll. He identified this individual as a probationary staff member dismissed after four months for attempting “to change COTU’s payroll for personal financial gain and even alter[ing] the organization’s logo.”

Atwoli emphasized that the termination followed due process and that COTU refrained from pursuing legal action despite the alleged misconduct.

Addressing the unlawful dismissal claims, Atwoli argued that no employee has been unfairly sacked.

“All those mentioned who have since left COTU (K) have since paid their service payments and dues and none has since complained,” he said, adding that many former staff have secured senior roles in the private and public sectors.

On the explosive sexual harassment allegations, Atwoli was unequivocal: “COTU (K) has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment.” He pointed to the union’s “well-defined Sexual Harassment Policy and a safeguarding policy,” which he claimed ensures swift and decisive action on complaints.

“As of today, no serving officer and or official of COTU (K) is facing any allegations or investigations related to sexual harassment,” he added, encouraging staff to report incidents internally or to authorities.

Atwoli reaffirmed COTU’s dedication to transparency, fairness, and workers’ rights, urging the public to dismiss the whistleblower’s claims and contact the union for clarification.

A Clash of Narratives

The stark contrast between the whistleblower’s account and Atwoli’s rebuttal raises troubling questions about the inner workings of COTU, an organization meant to be a beacon for Kenyan workers.

While Atwoli’s response seeks to restore confidence, the specificity of the allegations — including named employees and references to a Brussels incident — suggests a deeper story that may not be easily dismissed.

Posts on X (formerly Twitter) reflect growing public skepticism. One user remarked, “Hapo kwa sexual harassment i heard kitambo and things are bad there for young ladies. COTU is a sick rotten place. Atwoli being the sickest of all,” echoing sentiments that the allegations may have roots in longstanding rumors.

Another called for COTU and Atwoli to part ways, citing “corruption, sexual harassment, and workers mistreatment” as grievous offenses.

The whistleblower’s plea for investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) adds urgency to the matter.

“A lot of us will confide in them if they come on the ground. The staff are demoralized and can’t speak out openly,” they wrote. Yet, without concrete evidence beyond the anonymous account, the claims remain unverified — a challenge compounded by the employee’s request for anonymity, likely出于 fear of retaliation.

The ambiguity of the allegations is too serious to ignore, particularly given COTU’s mandate to protect workers.

Atwoli’s dismissal of the claims as a personal vendetta does little to address the detailed nature of the accusations or the whistleblower’s call for independent scrutiny.

The mention of a Brussels case, if true, could be a critical lead — one that merits further investigation into COTU’s international dealings and the conduct of its officials.

Meanwhile, it appears that the duel is just starting and a lot more could be uncovered in due time.

Screenshots by Kenya Insights.

For now, the ball is in the court of Kenya’s investigative authorities.

Will the DCI and DPP heed the whistleblower’s appeal and launch a probe? Or will these allegations fade into the noise of unproven rumors? One thing is clear: the voices of COTU’s staff — silenced by fear or amplified by courage — deserve to be heard.

Until then, Francis Atwoli’s assurances ring hollow against the raw, unfiltered desperation of a whistleblower caught off guard by a system they once trusted.