Key Highlights
- Househelps in Nakuru and Eldoret now qualify for city-level minimum wages.
- Domestic workers in major cities, including Nairobi and Mombasa, will earn a minimum monthly salary of Ksh16,113, up from Ksh15,200.
- Wider Coverage: Includes cleaners, gardeners, watchmen, and other domestic roles.
- Workers in non-urban areas to earn Ksh8,596 per month.
- Wage increase follows President Ruto’s 6% adjustment order on Labour Day 2024.
- COTU Pushes for a 24% increment, highlighting gaps in compliance.
Minimum monthly salary – Househelps in Nakuru and Eldoret are set to benefit from the towns’ elevation to city status, thanks to updated minimum wage regulations issued by Labour CS Alfred Mutua.
The rules, now applicable to domestic and industrial workers, align their pay with city rates.
Under the new guidelines, househelps in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru will earn a minimum monthly salary of Ksh16,113, up from Ksh15,200 set in 2018. This increase translates to daily earnings of Ksh775 or Ksh144 per hour.
Minimum monthly salary for other domestic workers
Other domestic workers, including cleaners, gardeners, and day watchmen, will also earn the same rate. Workers in former municipalities like Ruiru, Limuru, and Mavoko are entitled to Ksh14,866 monthly, while those in non-urban areas will receive Ksh8,596.
Specialized roles, such as miners, cooks, and drivers of light vehicles, will see a rise, with pay varying across cities, municipalities, and rural areas.
For instance, heavy commercial vehicle drivers in cities will earn Ksh36,360, while caretakers in urban centers will earn Ksh33,416.
The changes follow President William Ruto’s directive during Labour Day 2024, mandating a 6% increase in the minimum wage. This adjustment is the first since a 12% increment in 2018 under former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
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Although welcomed by many, the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) has called for a more significant 24% wage hike, highlighting the need for better compensation, especially for domestic workers, who often earn less than the stipulated minimums.
The updated wage structure is expected to improve living standards for workers while addressing compliance gaps in Kenya’s labor sector.
