Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta have announced a 12% increase in the minimum wage as the East African country confronts a surge in the cost of living.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that inflation in Kenya jumped to a seven-month high in April, majorly as a result of skyrocketing fuel and food prices, according to official figures.
‘As a caring government, we find there is a compelling case to review the minimum wages so as to cushion our workers against further erosions,’ Kenyatta said at a Labour Day rally.
He said the 12 percent increase would come into effect from May 1. It takes the minimum monthly wage from 13,500 Kenyan shillings (about $116.5, 110.5 euros) to 15,120 shillings ($130.5, 124 euros).
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However, the hike falls far short of the 24 percent that had been sought by the Central Organisation of Trade Unions-Kenya (COTU).
Kenyatta explained that the high cost of living was due to factors ‘beyond my control like the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict’.
He went on to castigate rival political leaders — including Deputy President William Ruto — for seeking to blame the government for the economic woes, as the country prepares for crucial elections in August.
Kenyatta cannot run again after serving two terms but has endorsed his former arch-rival Raila Odinga for the top job.
The August 9 presidential election is expected to be a two-horse race between Odinga and Ruto, who was initially anointed by Kenyatta as his successor but found himself frozen out after a shock 2018 pact between Kenyatta and Odinga.
Kenya’s finance minister last month unveiled a $28 billion budget aimed at helping the economy recover after the Covid-19 pandemic threw hundreds of thousands of people out of work.
Kenyans are struggling to cope with rising costs of basic goods such as food and fuel, a crisis exacerbated by the Ukraine war, while several parts of the country are also suffering from a severe drought.
Africa Daily News, New York
