Kiambu town workers have lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive to have their basic salaries increased by 12 per cent.
Speaking to this writer in Kiambu town on Saturday, the workers, mostly who work for flower farms lauded the President, saying the increment will cushion them against the high living standards.
Alexander Mutia, a worker with a fruit company said the increment came at the right time.
“The President has done well by ordering a 12 per cent salary increment for us, the little we have been getting is not sufficient bearing in mind the cost of life has gone up,” said the worker.
Mutia urged the government to follow up on the increment, claiming that some companies and employers are unlikely to implement the directive.
“Though we are happy, at the same time we are not sure whether the salary increment will be implemented,” he said.
Mutia said that a similar directive in 2013 that workers be paid 14 per cent increment was never fulfilled.
Mary Nyamabura, a civil servant welcomed the increment, saying it will counter-act the effects of high cost of living.
She said that civil servants, especially those at lower cadres, are poorly paid and that high living standards has pushed them to the wall.
Nyambura said the government has a responsibility to protect workers from exploitation.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, during the Labour Day celebrations announced a 12 per cent basic salary increment for workers.