On 12 October, a Nairobi Court fined Atwoli, head of the Kenyan Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union and General Secretary of national union centre COTU, 500,000 Kenyan Shillings (around Euros 4,600) for refusing to call off a strike by tea workers two years ago.

He will also have legal costs to pay. The UK-based ‘Going to Work’ website has devised a campaign with COTU to collect donations to meet these costs on the basis that “an injury to one is an injury to all.” https://secure.goingtowork.org.uk/page/contribute/help-kenyan-trade-unionist-fined-for-backing-his-members

“Francis Atwoli has been wrongly fined for standing up for the rights of 100,000 tea plantation workers whose jobs were under threat, and the ITUC is pleased to support the campaign to help cover the legal costs. Many companies in Kenya have negotiated on mechanisation and technology in good faith, but the Kenya Tea Growers Association used unprincipled legal manoeuvres to try and stop legitimate union activity and deprive tens of thousands of workers of the chance to stand up to bullying tactics. We are encouraging unions around the world to support COTU and the Going to Work action,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.