[Kenya] President increases minimum wage for first time in 3 years

In Kenya, President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced an immediate 12 per cent increase in the country’s minimum wage to help workers cope with a surge in consumer prices driven, in part, by the war in Ukraine, Al Jazeera reports.

A statement issued on May 1 by the President’s office quoted Kenyatta’s speech at Labour Day celebrations in the capital, Nairobi. He said, “There is a compelling case to review the minimum wage so as to cushion our workers against further erosion of their purchasing power.” 

The wage rise, President Kenyatta said, was necessary because the minimum wage had not been reviewed for three years and the cost of living has increased.

Kenya’s current monthly minimum wage is 13,500 Kenyan shillings ($116.68).

In common with other countries across the region, Kenyans are trying to cope with a surge in prices of commodities, including cooking oil and fuel, aggravated by supply concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24.

The statistics office said that inflation in the East African country rose to 6.47 per cent year-on-year last month from 5.56 per cent in March.

In April, Kenya was hit by fuel shortages and traffic in some parts of Nairobi reportedly came to a standstill as motorists joined long queues outside petrol stations.

In Kenya, President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced an immediate 12 per cent increase in the country’s minimum wage to help workers cope with a surge in consumer prices driven, in part, by the war in Ukraine, Al Jazeera reports.

A statement issued on May 1 by the President’s office quoted Kenyatta’s speech at Labour Day celebrations in the capital, Nairobi. He said, “There is a compelling case to review the minimum wage so as to cushion our workers against further erosion of their purchasing power.” 

The wage rise, President Kenyatta said, was necessary because the minimum wage had not been reviewed for three years and the cost of living has increased.

Kenya’s current monthly minimum wage is 13,500 Kenyan shillings ($116.68).

In common with other countries across the region, Kenyans are trying to cope with a surge in prices of commodities, including cooking oil and fuel, aggravated by supply concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24.

The statistics office said that inflation in the East African country rose to 6.47 per cent year-on-year last month from 5.56 per cent in March.

In April, Kenya was hit by fuel shortages and traffic in some parts of Nairobi reportedly came to a standstill as motorists joined long queues outside petrol stations.