THE EMPLOYERS lobby group is concerned over the recent spate of strikes which it notes are ill timed as the country battles a tough economic environment and the ongoing war on the al Shaabab terror group.

The Federation of Kenya Employers has called on striking workers who include teachers, doctors and lecturers in public institutions to be "realistic of the prevailing socio-economic environment which requires that the rights of everybody to be respected, including employers."

FKE has warned that uncoordinated pay increment to any public entity at this time will be detrimental to the work of the Salary and Remuneration Commission. The federation wants the government to commence talks through tripartite arrangements with the unions of these workers and the parent ministries involved to reach a solution quickly.

"The Federation of Kenya Employers has hereby offered itself to mediate in these Trade Disputes and all the parties concerned should come to these meetings with clear and achievable proposals that will make our children go back to class and our doctors back in the wards with patients," said FKE executive director Jacqueline Mugo in a statement.

FKE cautioned the government against implementing increments in some public sectors because it would create disharmony in in remuneration within the public sector employees and other sectors of the economy. This, the federation noted, would cause more problems by way of increased taxes and cost of production of goods and services.