Before independence, the colonial government was the major obstacle to the growth of Kenya's labour movement. Now it is facing what could be its biggest ever challenge: the government of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) was established in 1965, two years after independence from Britain. Until then, British rulers had often sided with employers to thwart organised labour. Despite early difficulties, Cotu managed to expand its membership to 400,000 in the late 1980s. By 2010, this figure had grown to 2m, making Cotu the sole voice representing Kenya's workers and a powerful role-player in negotiations touching on welfare.
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