COTU Demands Gazettement of 12% Wage Increase Announced by President Ruto

The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) has demanded the immediate gazettement and implementation of the 12 per cent general wage increase announced by President William Ruto during this year's Labour Day celebrations.

The union noted that the recent statutory wage adjustments published by the government fell far short of the directive issued by the Head of State.

In a formal press statement issued on Friday, COTU-K Secretary General Francis Atwoli expressed serious concerns over the latest official legal notice.

Francis Atwoli stated that the published notice appeared to focus exclusively on minor adjustments to the statutory minimum wage, rather than introducing the broader wage increment that had been promised to the entire national workforce.

"The recent gazettement appears to have focused on adjustments to the statutory minimum wage instead of giving legal effect to the President's directive on a General Wage Increase applicable across the workforce," Francis Atwoli said.

According to the union leadership, President Ruto unequivocally announced a 12 per cent general wage increase for Kenyan workers, alongside a 15 per cent wage increase specifically targeting agricultural workers.

These announcements were delivered publicly during the 61st Labour Day celebrations held at Chavakali in Vihiga County, where employees across all sectors expected the financial pledge to be executed without delay.

The veteran trade union leader further claimed that certain employer groups had been actively lobbying state institutions to replace the comprehensive salary increment with basic minimum wage tweaks.

"COTU (K) is aware that, since the President's historic announcement, certain employer interests have been lobbying government institutions in an attempt to water down the intended wage increase by substituting a General Wage Increase with a Minimum Wage Increase," Francis Atwoli stated.

The union maintained that the two legal measures serve completely different economic purposes for the local workforce, particularly in high-volume labor fields.

A minimum wage adjustment only benefits individuals, who are currently earning the lowest legally allowable pay threshold.

Conversely, a general wage increase expands earnings across the entire existing salary structure, which helps to cushion everyday workers against severe inflation and the rising cost of living.

The dispute has raised concerns within major industrial sectors, including civil engineering and infrastructural construction, where contractors must manage substantial manual-labor operating costs.

Many formal construction firms look to these official gazette notices to structure their annual project budgets and calculate total site man-hours.

Francis Atwoli called directly upon the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection to quickly publish the required legal framework.

He insisted that the 12 per cent general wage increase must be formalised exactly as, it was articulated by President Ruto.

"The will of the President, as publicly communicated to the nation and to Kenyan workers, should be faithfully implemented without alteration or dilution," Francis Atwoli said.

The union also appealed directly to the Office of the President to intervene, so the state honors its public commitments made to the workforce.

This intervention would guarantee that the general wage increase is fully integrated into law, which ensures formal implementation across all domestic employment fields.