Atwoli Addresses Confusion Surrounding Ruto’s 12% Wage Hike, Clarifies Nationwide Pay Increase Policy
Central Organization of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli has stepped in to address confusion surrounding President William Ruto’s recent Labour Day wage announcement. Speaking to the press on Saturday, May 2, 2026, Atwoli dismissed claims that the 12 per cent increment targets only minimum wage earners, saying the directive had been widely misunderstood, particularly by employers’ organisations. Atwoli maintained that the president’s pronouncement was clear and deliberate, insisting the wage adjustment cuts across different income levels in both public and private sectors. He emphasized that workers should not be misled into thinking the increase is limited. “The 12 per cent wage increase was not a minimum wage increase. It was a general wage increase,” Atwoli said, adding that the president explicitly communicated this during the Labour Day celebrations. He pointed out that confusion arose from failure to distinguish between minimum wage adjustments and general wage incre...