Kenya's Labour Minister on Sunday said he had raised the minimum wage by 12.5 percent to help people cope with soaring prices, well below the sharp increase demanded by unions who have threatened strikes. Rising food and fuel prices have sparked protests across the region, most recently in neighbouring Uganda last week.
Kenyan trade unions have threatened to hold a general strike this week if they do not get a 60 percent rise in the minimum wage. "We are increasing the minimum wage by 12.5 percent," Labour Minister John Munyes told a crowd gathered at a park in the capital to mark Labour Day.
He said the government had already taken several steps to help people struggling with price rises, including the removal of taxes on kerosene, wheat and maize. Kenya sets a number of minimum wages, based on workers' location, age and skill.
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