Francis Atwoli has once again found himself at the centre of controversy after responding to critics on social media in a manner that many Kenyans interpreted as dismissive, elitist, and out of touch with the realities facing millions of unemployed young people.

For years, the veteran COTU Secretary-General has cultivated an image of influence, power, and success. His social media pages frequently feature images and videos of international travel, luxury living, high-profile meetings, and a lifestyle that many ordinary workers can only dream of. To his supporters, those images reflect a lifetime of hard work and achievement. To his critics, they symbolize the growing disconnect between Kenya's labour elite and the struggling workers they claim to represent.

The backlash was triggered after Atwoli responded to criticism surrounding his recent trip to Geneva, where he attended the International Labour Conference. Rather than simply explaining his work at the conference, Atwoli launched a broadside against online critics, particularly blogger Cyprian Nyakundi and others who had questioned his activities.

According to Atwoli, those criticizing him are "idlers" who do not understand labour issues.

More controversially, he argued that unemployed people cannot understand the terms and conditions of service affecting working men and women because they are not employed.

The remarks immediately ignited debate online.

To many young Kenyans battling unemployment, Atwoli's comments sounded less like a defence of labour rights and more like a wealthy establishment figure mocking those who have been locked out of the job market.

Critics argued that Kenya's unemployment crisis is not a personal failure on the part of job seekers but a national challenge affecting millions of educated and qualified young people.

In effect, many interpreted Atwoli's message as saying that unless one has a payslip, they have no right to question him.

Others saw an even deeper contradiction.

As the country's longest-serving labour leader, Atwoli is supposed to advocate for workers and those seeking employment. Yet his response appeared to ridicule unemployed citizens while defending his own record and lifestyle.

The irony was not lost on many observers.

At a time when countless young Kenyans are struggling to secure jobs, watching friends leave the country in search of opportunities, and grappling with rising living costs, Atwoli seemed more interested in reminding them that he was negotiating wage increases in Geneva than acknowledging the frustrations that fuel criticism against him.

Indeed, many critics noted that Atwoli's statement effectively boiled down to a simple message:

"I am travelling the world, negotiating international agreements, and securing benefits for workers. If you are unemployed, you cannot understand what I do."

That perception only intensified anger among online users.

To them, Atwoli appeared to be telling jobless youths to stop criticizing him and instead admire the lifestyle and influence he has accumulated over decades in power.

His critics argue that this is precisely why he has become such a polarizing figure.

While Atwoli highlighted achievements including a reported 12 percent general wage increase, a 15 percent agricultural wage increase, and negotiations surrounding protections for platform workers such as Uber and Bolt drivers, many Kenyans remain unconvinced that these accomplishments justify his increasingly combative tone toward critics.

They point out that millions of young people are not asking for wage increases because they do not even have jobs in the first place.

For them, the more pressing question is employment creation.

What good is a wage increase if one cannot secure employment?

What relevance do international labour conferences have to a graduate who has spent years searching for work?

And how can a labour movement claim to represent ordinary citizens while appearing to mock those who are unemployed?

These are the questions that continue to follow Atwoli.

Whether intentional or not, his remarks reinforced a perception that has been growing for years: that some of Kenya's most powerful labour leaders have become part of the establishment they were originally meant to challenge.

And in a country where unemployment remains one of the greatest concerns for young people, telling critics that they cannot understand labour issues because they are jobless was always likely to provoke a fierce reaction.

The result was predictable.

Instead of silencing critics, Atwoli's comments gave them even more reason to question whether the veteran union boss still understands the struggles of the ordinary Kenyans he claims to represent.