A Union-to-Union delegation, led by its General Secretary, Lennart Reinius, alongside Jens Saverstam, representative of BWI’s Swedish affiliates, Chaker Nassar from SEKO and Jonas Ericksson from the Swedish Electricians’ Union, paid a solidarity visit to Kenya on 3-7 January 2026. The mission aimed to deepen the collaboration between BWI and it’s Kenyan affiliates and their Swedish counterparts, facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices, and provide updates on the new Union to Union project model.

Five BWI affiliates namely, KBCTFIEU, KQMWU, KETAWU, UNRISK and KUPRIPUPA joined  the delegates and shared their experiences and lessons in organising, negotiations and social dialogue among different sectors; and the impact of their participation in previous UtoU programs.

The mission concluded with a follow-up visit to the Mombasa Mtwapa Kilifi (A7) Road Lot 1. The 13.5 km infrastructure project is being constructed by Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group Company Limited, funded by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), European Union, and the Kenyan government. The delegation observed a robust union presence (KBCTFIEU) at the site, which is affiliated with BWI and comprised of 330 unionised workers, 10 percent of whom are female. Notably, the delegation commended the improved advancement in occupational health and safety standards, marking a clear improvement since the previous worksite visit in 2025.

Overall, the mission reaffirmed the power of cross-border union collaboration in promoting decent work, safer workplaces, and stronger trade union institutions.

“We are deeply grateful for this mission, which serves as a powerful testament to our shared commitment to strengthening global solidarity. By exchanging best practices and witnessing the tangible improvements in workplace safety and union organisation on the ground, we are not just building capacity, we are building the future of international trade unionism”, KETAWU Deputy General Secretary Kolil Kosgey said.