President Ruto Orders Talks for 6% Minimum Wage Hike for Kenyan Workers
President William Ruto took action on Wednesday to initiate a process aimed at raising the country’s minimum wage, marking two years since former President Uhuru Kenyatta last increased it.
While speaking at the Labour Day Celebrations held at Uhuru Gardens, Ruto instructed Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore to gather a council and start discussions on the matter.
Ruto explicitly requested Bore to guide the committee toward a decision that would increase the minimum wage by at least 6 percent.
“I direct our labor CS to convene the committee concerned and have a meeting so that we increase the minimum wage by a minimum of 6 per cent and you should tell me how the maths will be done.”
“We shall then discuss how the matter will progress forward,” Ruto stated.
The council is composed of representatives from the Central Organisation of Trade Unions-Kenya (COTU) led by Francis Atwoli, the Federation of Kenya Employers, and the government, among others.
The country’s lowest-paid workers last received a salary increase in 2022 when President Uhuru Kenyatta raised the minimum wage by 12%.
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In 2022, the minimum wage increased from 13,500 Kenyan shillings to 15,120 Kenyan shillings, which has remained the same since then.
Following discussions, the lowest-earning Kenyan worker is now expected to receive a monthly salary of Ksh16,027.
During the celebrations, President William Ruto emphasized that the government will not increase the salaries requested by intern doctors, maintaining that Ksh70,000 remains the offered amount.
He argued that the government had satisfied 17 out of its 19 demands but stated that the government could not meet all of their demands.
“We have tabled what the government is ready to do, 17 out of the 19 demands, the rest is not possible because of financial constraints,” Ruto stated.
The Head of State emphasized that his government has created employment opportunities for Kenyans, including 140,000 workers in the affordable housing sector.
President Ruto Orders Talks for 6% Minimum Wage Hike for Kenyan Workers