COTU hails landmark court ruling protecting outsourced workers

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COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli during a press briefing in Nairobi, June, 17, 2026. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) has welcomed a landmark Employment and Labour Relations Court ruling that could significantly improve the rights and working conditions of thousands of outsourced and casual workers across Kenya.

Speaking during a media briefing in Nairobi, COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli described the June 11 judgment as a major victory against the exploitation of outsourced labour, saying it would help end discrimination between permanent employees and workers hired through third-party agencies.

The ruling, arising from a case involving the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU), Raya Vipingo Limited and an outsourcing firm, allows outsourced workers to join trade unions of their choice and benefit from collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) negotiated in the workplaces where they are deployed.