Kenyan workers marked Labour Day 2025 with disappointment and frustration, as the much-anticipated wage increase failed to materialize. Celebrated under the Kenya Kwanza administration for the third consecutive year, this year’s event fell short of expectations, especially amid soaring unemployment and increased financial burdens.
Unlike last year, when President William Ruto promised a 6% wage increment for low-income earners, the 2025 celebrations came without any new pay rise announcement. The previous pledge remains largely unimplemented, with workers lamenting the rising cost of living, stagnant wages, and growing statutory deductions. These include controversial levies like the housing fund, which are calculated on gross pay, further eroding workers’ take-home income.
Veteran unionist Francis Atwoli voiced the collective concern of workers, urging the government to shift all statutory deductions to basic salary instead of gross. “Hizi vitu tunakatwa housing nini it should not be on gross… All deductions should be on basic,” Atwoli insisted, emphasizing that overtime and extra efforts should not be penalized through inflated deductions.
President Ruto responded by announcing a change in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax calculations. Moving forward, employers will apply eligible tax deductions directly, instead of workers having to claim relief through the Kenya Revenue Authority. While this aims to improve take-home pay, many workers remain skeptical about the actual impact of the change.
Adding to the discontent was the silence surrounding the scandal-ridden “Kazi Majuu” program. Many Kenyans have reportedly lost money in the process of seeking overseas employment under the initiative, yet the Ministry of Labour has offered no formal explanation. Instead, Labour CS Alfred Mutua promised ongoing reforms and the dismantling of cartels, claiming over 200,000 Kenyans had secured foreign jobs and projecting 500,000 more.
As Labour Day celebrations end, workers are left with little to celebrate. With rising inflation, job insecurity, and unmet government promises, many are returning to the harsh realities of managing dwindling incomes against growing expenses once again hoping that next year’s celebrations bring more than just speeches
