Trade unions, once powerful advocates for workers' rights, are facing a global decline due to several key factors. This article explores the diminishing influence of these organizations and ponders their future.

• Key factors contributing to the decline include political co-option, where union leaders align with governments for personal gain rather than serving workers.
• The article mentions COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli as a prominent figure in Kenyan trade unions.
• Other contributing factors include companies seeking locations with weaker union presence to reduce labor costs, the rise of temporary and gig workers who are difficult to unionize, and the increasing impact of technology like automation and AI.