Was Uhuru Evading Pay rise Demand by not Showing up on Labour Day?

President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and Opposition chief Raila Odinga skipped this year’s Labour Day celebrations as the government remained silent on the much anticipated wage increment by local workers. The national fete which was graced by Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani received backlash from Kenyans after the CS winded up his speech without mentioning a thing about workers salary.

The national fete which was graced by Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani received backlash from Kenyans after the CS winded up his speech without mentioning a thing about workers salary.

The event which was hosted at Uhuru Park on Wednesday, May 1, left many Kenyans disillusioned and was criticised by some as the worst and poorly attended national fete particularly after being skipped by the country’s top leadership.

Prior to the function, Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) boss Francis Atwoli had warmed workers’ hearts with expectations by hinting at a possible 15% wage increment.

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The COTU leader who has of late become a close ally and defender of Uhuru and Raila had exuded confidence the president would effect the salary increment in exchange for the union’s support to the government’s proposed 1.5% house levy.

Kenyans expectations were further ignited by the 2019 Economic Survey report indicating the country’s Gross Domestic Product had grown from 4% to 6.3%. The hopes were, however, shattered after Yattani concluded his speech without elaborating on how the government was going to deal with the pay rise issue.

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That the president and his deputy missed the occasion without explanation, the hopes of Kenyan workers getting a better pay remains in limbo. Kenya Federation of Employers which was opposed to the increment also boycotted the event.

Here is the video for the event;

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