COTU Treasurer General Albert Njeru Dies After Short Illness

The news was delivered by Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, who also noted that Njeru served as General Secretary of the country’s Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers. The announcement has cast a sombre mood across the labour movement, where Njeru was widely regarded as a steady and principled figure.

Atwoli described the loss in personal and institutional terms. “It is with profound pain and deep sorrow that I announce the passing of COTU (K) Treasurer General and General Secretary for the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA), Bro. Albert Njeru Obed, following a short illness,” he said. He went on to portray Njeru as a dedicated trade unionist whose commitment to the welfare and dignity of workers never wavered throughout his years of service.

Beyond formal roles, Atwoli spoke of a deeper bond, calling Njeru a brother, a loyal friend and a distinguished champion of workers’ rights. The secretary-general extended condolences to the bereaved family, colleagues and the broader labour community, expressing hope that Njeru’s soul would rest in eternal peace. The death is viewed as a significant blow not only to the organisation and the specific union he led but also to the wider trade union movement in the country and internationally.

Njeru’s dual responsibilities placed him at the intersection of financial stewardship within the national labour body and day-to-day advocacy for workers in domestic service, hospitality, education and healthcare. Colleagues and members who interacted with him over the years often recalled his focus on practical improvements in working conditions and his insistence on treating labour issues with both seriousness and humanity. His absence will be felt in boardrooms and at the negotiating table alike.

As tributes begin to gather and funeral arrangements take shape, the labour movement faces the familiar task of honouring a departed leader while continuing the work he supported. The values he embodied—steadfastness, solidarity and concern for dignity—remain available as guides for those who now carry the responsibilities forward.