President William Ruto has announced a 12 per cent increase in general wages and a 15 per cent increase in agricultural wages as part of measures aimed at improving the welfare of Kenyan workers.

Speaking during Labour Day celebrations at Chavakali Boys High School in Vihiga county on Friday, the president said the wage increase was in recognition of the contribution workers continue to make to the country’s economic growth and stability.

“In recognition of the sacrifice, resilience, and immense contribution of our workers to the growth and stability of our economy, I am pleased to announce a 12 per cent increase in general wages and a 15 per cent increase in agricultural wages,” he said.

The announcement was among several labour and welfare measures unveiled during the national celebrations, attended by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly speaker Moses Wetangula, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, Central Organization of Trade Unions, COTU, Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, Vihiga Governor Wilbur Otichillo, and Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka.

The President also announced that the deposit required for salaried workers seeking to purchase affordable housing units had been reduced from 10 per cent to 5 per cent of the value of the unit.

He urged COTU and its affiliate unions to encourage workers to register on the Boma Yangu platform and apply for housing units under the various available categories.

“Where there are specific cases of workers who have applied and not been served, bring them forward and we will resolve them,” he said.

President Ruto thanked Kenyan workers for supporting what he described as the government’s transformative programmes, including affordable housing, education reforms, and healthcare.

“On this Labour Day, I say thank you to every Kenyan worker for not only believing in our country, but also for actively building it, sustaining it, and shaping its future,” he said.

On healthcare, the president said the government was continuing to refine the Social Health Authority, SHA, to make it more responsive to the needs of Kenyans.

He announced the withdrawal of restrictive tariff mechanisms that had created unintended challenges, including temporary outpatient caps that had initially been introduced to protect the sustainability of the fund.

According to the president, ongoing negotiations are expected to result in updated agreements that will guarantee a seamless, zero co-payment, “walk-in, walk-out” experience for all public officers.

He said his administration would continue to defend the rights of workers to fair labour practices, in line with the Constitution.

The president added that Kenya would soon complete the ratification of two key International Labour Organization, ILO, conventions. These are ILO convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers and ILO convention No. 190 on the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work.

On development projects in Vihiga, president Ruto said the government was investing Sh15 billion in affordable housing projects, markets and student hostels in the county.

He also said construction of the Sh900 million Kidundu Stadium in Vihiga would begin soon, adding that the government had already paid Sh90 million to landowners affected by the project.

The president used the Labour Day platform to defend his administration’s development record, urging Kenyans to look beyond what he termed negative coverage of the country.

“The noise may command attention, but it cannot, and it will never, change reality. Because the true story of a nation is not told in sponsored headlines; it is written in the daily actions of citizens like the 30.8 million Kenyans who have registered with SHA, and the thousands who continue to do so daily,” he said.

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