2 May 2008
Nairobi — A committee to look into the minimum wage, among other issues affecting Kenya's workers, will be formed on Friday.
Announcing the move on Thursday, Labour minister John Munyes said President Kibaki did not address the minimum wage issue because the Ministry wanted to involve every partner before making any announcements.
He said the tripartite committee will be made up of the Central Organisaton of Trade Unions (Cotu), the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) and the Government. He said the committee will deliberate for three months and then make its recommendations
"The Government recognises the role workers play in building this economy," he said.
Mr Munyes said many employers suffered during the post-election violence and it would be unfair to push them further by raising wages without consulting them.
Meanwhile, workers heckled a provincial labour officer at Moi Stadium in Kisumu, accusing him of siding with employers who flouted labour laws.
However, the officer, Mr Otieno Bunde, denied the accusations and laid blame on union officials who he accused of inciting the workers against him. "Even last year, it was the same thing," he said.
Kisumu deputy mayor Pamela Jossy asked the Government to act on the matter. Kisumu Town East DC James ole Seriani promised to investigate the workers' claims.
Kisumu Town East MP Shakeel Shabir said he rescued the same provincial officer from a crowd that wanted to lynch him during Labour Day celebrations last year.
Similar events in South Rift, Nyanza and Western province were marked by poor turnout.
In Homa Bay, workers who had turned up at a local stadium were shocked to find that labour officials had kept off the event.
Homa Bay DC Bernard Leparmarai said his labour officers had not briefed him on the festivities.
Labour and union leaders did not organise the event in Nyamira District.
A section of unionised civil servants and those from private firms were at work.
They accused their union officials of failing to organise the fete and called for better terms of service for workers.
In Kakamega Town, union officials from Western Province lamented over the poor working conditions and the economic hardships facing workers during a low key event at Bukhungu Stadium. They asked the Government to address the plight of workers by improving their living conditions.
Mayor Joe Serenge said the council had made arrangements to pay workers Sh13 million salary arrears.
By Sam Kiplagat, Cosmas Butunyi, Benson Amadala, Maurice Kaluoch, Henry Nyarora, Ouma Wanzala and Sollo Kiragu.
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