Nairobi — President William Ruto has called for stricter enforcement of labour laws against private security companies that have failed to implement the government’s 15 percent minimum wage increase. Addressing thousands of private security officers at State House, the President said several employers had ignored the wage adjustment announced during this year’s Labour Day celebrations. He further noted that some guards continue to earn salaries far below the statutory minimum, with reports indicating wages of between Sh6,000 and Sh8,000. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines
“The laws of the Republic of Kenya state that it is illegal and inhumane for anyone to be paid below the minimum wage. Therefore, to our good friends in the private security sector, the regulator is here, the Ministry of Interior is here, and the Ministry of Labour is represented.
We must work collaboratively to ensure that every private security company operates within the parameters of the law,” Ruto said. Ruto directed regulators, alongside the Ministries of Labour and Interior, to ensure compliance across the private security sector. He said while the government was willing to engage employers experiencing financial difficulties, compliance with minimum wage laws was not optional.
However, the President emphasized that respect for labour laws remains non-negotiable, saying every worker is entitled to the minimum wage guaranteed under Kenyan law. “Kenyan law states that every worker is entitled to be paid at least the minimum wage, and that is not negotiable. We can negotiate about anything else.”
“The government is ready to sit down with employers to address their concerns, but workers must be paid what they deserve,” Ruto said.
