Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua signed legal notices on May 7 effecting a 12 percent rise in general minimum wages and 15 percent for agricultural workers. The move follows President William Ruto's Labour Day announcement and aims to address rising living costs.
The government has formalised wage adjustments for Kenyan workers across sectors. Mutua stated that the notices align with the May 1 directive and have been sent to the Attorney General’s Office for gazetting.
Mutua noted the changes will guide private and public employers in updating payrolls and salaries. He gave an example of a Ksh50,000 earner gaining Ksh6,000 to reach Ksh56,000.
Reactions remain divided. The Federation of Kenya Employers indicated adjustments apply only to minimum wages under existing laws. In contrast, the Central Organisation of Trade Unions maintained the increase covers general wages and will apply once gazetted.
