Secretary-General Urges Government to Review Minimum Wage for Kenyan Workers

The General Secretary of the Confederation of Trade Unions (COTU), Francis Atwoli, has called on the government to take immediate action to review and improve the minimum wage for Kenyan workers. The cost of living, particularly rents in Nairobi neighborhoods like Kilimani and Westland, is high and often comparable to European levels. As a result, the minimum wage in cities is often too low to provide a decent standard of living. The minimum wage in Kenya varies considerably depending on the region, industry, and type of work. Here are the current benchmark figures (as of 2024, based on the latest official adjustments). The general minimum wage (for unskilled workers) in Kenya is divided into three regions based on the cost of living: 1. Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu (Urban Areas): - Monthly: Approx. 15,201 - 21,364 KES (Kenyan Shillings) - In Euros (approx.): ~ €100 - €140 (Exchange rate dependent, €1 ≈ 150 KES) 2. Other Towns and Municipalities (e.g., Nakuru, Eldoret): - Monthly: Approx. 12,926 - 18,167 KES - In Euros (approx.): ~ €85 - €120 3. All Other Areas (Rural Regions): - Monthly: Approx. 7,240 - 10,172 KES - In Euros (approx.): ~ €48 - €68 Industry-specific minimum wages apply to many sectors, with separate, sometimes higher, rates (for unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled workers). Here are some examples: In agriculture, wages range from approximately 9,340 to 14,325 KES per month (depending on the region). In the construction industry, wages range from approximately 12,885 to 20,195 KES per month (depending on the region). The hotel and restaurant industry pays approximately 15,048 to 21,364 KES per month (depending on the region and size of the business). And in the textile and clothing industry, wages range from approximately 12,926 to 18,167 KES per month (depending on the region). Note: Domestic workers (housekeepers, gardeners, etc.) are subject to a separate, lower rate (approximately 4,554 to 7,240 KES per month, depending on the region). This is a common criticism. A few more important points to note. Many unskilled workers in the informal sector are paid by the day. The statutory minimum daily wage for unskilled workers in Nairobi, for example, is around 674 KES (approximately €4.50). The minimum wage is set by the Kenya Wages Council and is usually adjusted every two years. The last major adjustment was in 2022. Many Kenyans, especially those in the informal sector (estimates: over 80% of workers), earn less than the official minimum wage. Compliance and enforcement are often lax in practice. Foreign skilled workers generally earn significantly more than the minimum wage, often according to the international salary standards of their companies or organizations. These are the challenges that COTU has to address. The COTU (Central Organization of Trade Unions) in Kenya is the main national umbrella organization for trade unions, representing over 40 affiliated unions and millions of workers. It advocates for strengthening workers' rights, improving working conditions, and influencing policy. Its core activities include organizing trade unions, resolving disputes, and lobbying for better legislation. COTU aims to improve the social, economic, and political conditions for Kenyan workers across all sectors. It supports trade union organization, structures memberships, and promotes harmonious relations between employers and employees. The organization also manages funds through membership dues and donations to finance its initiatives. In his New Year's address, Atwoli emphasized the urgent need for the government to quickly implement measures to raise the statutory minimum wage, which currently varies depending on location and occupational group. He called on private-sector employers to create a favorable climate for collective bargaining, as this would contribute to improving wages, benefits, and overall working conditions for employees. The statutory minimum wage in Kenya is an important benchmark, but the reality is characterized by large disparities, the informal sector and a lack of enforcement. https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/119499-cotu-secretary-general-urges-government-review-minimum-wage-kenyan-workers

Kenya has faced numerous economic challenges

Since the beginning of 2025, Kenya has faced numerous economic challenges, leading to the closure of several companies and the cessation of operations due to high costs and regulatory changes. The Federation of Kenyan Employers (FKE) pointed out that tax policies, international geopolitical events, and climate change are responsible for the rising business costs in Kenya. Several foreign companies exited or significantly scaled down operations in Kenya during 2025, primarily due to high operational costs, unpredictable tax policies, currency depreciation, and economic pressures. These exits affected sectors such as automotive, banking, and manufacturing, contributing to job losses amid a challenging business environment. It is important to note that since the last update in July 2024, we have been forecasting for 2025. The following list is therefore based on credible trends, announced market exits, and the existing economic pressures on multinational companies in Kenya, and has been extrapolated to a plausible scenario for 2025. A final, official list for the full year 2025 will not be available until early 2026. However, given the current business climate, the following foreign companies are highly likely to have left the Kenyan market in 2025 or announced their withdrawal. High capital costs from interest rates, inflation, and government policies drove redundancies and closures. The Federation of Kenya Employers highlighted tax changes, geopolitical events, and climate impacts as key burdens on businesses. Analysts noted policy instability as a deterrent for multinationals. Significant market exits (announced or highly likely in 2025) include Bayer (Crop Science Division), agrochemicals & seeds. The reason for the market exit is the global restructuring (the "Dynamic Participation" model). Bayer announced a global split of its business. The Crop Science Division's activities in Africa, including Kenya, will be reduced or sold to focus on core markets. The current status is that the global withdrawal was announced for 2024, with the exit in Kenya expected to be completed by 2025. Then HMD Global (licensor of the Nokia brand) will also withdraw. HMD operates in the consumer electronics/telecommunications sector. The reason for the withdrawal is strong competition from Chinese brands (Tecno, Infinix, Xiaomi) and Samsung, which dominate the lower and middle price segments in Kenya. The shrinking market share made operating its own branches unprofitable. The current status is that a likely market withdrawal or significant reduction towards a distribution partner model is being initiated. Then there is Shoprite Holdings (Checkers Kenya), which operates in the retail sector (supermarkets). The reason for the withdrawal is ongoing losses, strong competition from Naivas, Quickmart, and Carrefour, high operating costs, and supply chain challenges. Shoprite had already withdrawn from other East African markets (Uganda). A strong candidate for market exit in 2025 if performance does not improve. Virgin Atlantic Airways, which operates in the aviation sector. The reason for the market exit is the consolidation of long-haul routes. Strong competition from Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and the expanding route network of Kenya Airways. High fuel and operating costs on less frequently traveled routes. Likely discontinuation of the London-Nairobi route, which would amount to a de facto market exit. Several international BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) companies are giving up; they operate in the outsourcing and customer service sectors. The reason for the market exit is the rising cost of skilled workers and office space in Nairobi compared to alternatives in Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco. Consolidation towards larger hubs is expected. Likely quiet market exits or downsizing rather than high-profile announcements. Contributing factors to the market exit trend in 2025 include high operating costs and ongoing problems with high electricity costs, fuel prices, and logistics. Tax and regulatory uncertainty cannot be ignored. Frequent changes to tax law (such as the digital tax) and bureaucratic hurdles pose challenges. Intense local and regional competition presents a barrier. Kenyan and other African companies have become highly competitive. The sharp depreciation of the Kenyan shilling (KES) against the US dollar in 2023–2024 made repatriation of profits more difficult and increased the cost of imports. Global strategies by parent companies to reduce costs and focus on core markets often lead to withdrawals from smaller, challenging markets like Kenya. An "exit" can take many forms: It can mean a complete closure, a sale to a local company, or a reduction to a distribution/import model without a local presence. This is a forecast: This list is based on data prior to 2025. Actual results for 2025 may differ. https://www.tuko.co.ke/business-economy/613862-list-foreign-companies-exited-kenyan-market-2025/ https://nairobileo.co.ke/features/article/24906/companies-that-closed-down-kenyan-operations-in-2025 https://streamlinefeed.co.ke/news/kenyas-corporate-graveyard-why-2025-was-a-brutal-year

Collapse Of A 16-Story Building In Nairobi

The South C Residents Association (SouCRA) is calling for urgent action following the collapse of a 16-story building under construction in South C. The incident highlights shortcomings in building oversight. In a statement, the association said it has repeatedly raised concerns about building permits and their enforcement in South C. Abdulmalik Gichuki, the association's chairman and an architect, explained that the issues raised included permits for construction projects that may not comply with applicable zoning, density, and height regulations, as well as violations of building lines, planning standards, and building codes. This tragic incident was foreseeable. The association also expressed concerns about enforcement practices. It noted that site managers and workers are sometimes arrested, while developers, financiers, and consultants largely go unpunished. The statement highlighted cases where court cases resulted in the release of construction workers, while higher-level decision-makers were not prosecuted. There is no comprehensive official statistic from the National Construction Authority (NCA) or other authorities tallying the exact number of building collapses in Kenya specifically for 2022–2026. Building collapses are recurrent in Kenya, particularly in Nairobi and surrounding areas like Kiambu County, often due to poor workmanship, substandard materials, non-compliance with building codes, and inadequate enforcement. However, news reports and analyzes document several notable incidents during this period. There was an incident in 2022. Multiple collapses reported, including at least three in Nairobi within a single week in November, plus others in areas like Ruiru (Kiambu), Kinoo (Kiambu), and Kirigiti (Kiambu, where one killed 5 people). Reports from late 2022 described a "spike" in incidents, with at least 4–7 documented in media that year. And in 2023, a 10-storey building under construction collapsed in Zimmerman/Roysambu (Nairobi) in September, with no casualties but damage to nearby structures. It continues in 2024, an 8-storey condemned residential building collapsed in Kahawa West (Nairobi) in October. In 2025 where no major collapses widely reported in available sources up to late 2025, although enforcement actions (e.g., citations) were issued on some sites that later failed. In 2026 the first incident already reported, a16-storey building under construction collapsed in South C (Nairobi) on January 2, with people feared trapped (rescue operations ongoing as of early January). In total, at least 8–12 significant building collapses are documented in media reports from 2022 to early 2026, concentrated mostly in 2022. Minor or unreported incidents may exist, as collapses (especially of smaller structures) are not always nationally covered. For context, pre-2022 data shows declines from highs like 21 collapses in 2015 to lows around 2019, followed by rises again in the early 2020s. These incidents highlight ongoing issues with construction regulation in rapidly urbanizing areas like Nairobi.

Somalia's armed forces have eliminated al-Shabaab militants

Somalia's armed forces have eliminated al-Shabaab militants

in the southeastern city of Chabad Godane, located in an al-Shabaab-influenced area of ​​Somalia, through intensified military operations in coordination with international partners, the Defense Ministry said. This was achieved through airstrikes, intelligence sharing, and operational support. Official statements from the Somali Defense Ministry did not name the specific partners. While unnamed, international partners in such operations typically include the United States (via airstrikes and special forces), the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, based on historical collaborations against al-Shabaab. During nighttime airstrikes in the Central Shabelle region, vehicles and weapons belonging to the al-Shabaab militia, intended for attacks on civilians, were destroyed. The Ministry thanked the unnamed partners for their contribution to the fight against terrorism. Al-Shabaab, an offshoot of al-Qaeda, has been leading an insurgency in Somalia since 2007, aiming to overthrow the government and strictly enforce Sharia law. Such operations reflect the Somali government's ongoing commitment to restoring peace in the face of the persistent threat posed by militant groups. Al-Shabaab maintains its presence in southeastern Somalia despite losses, with recent strikes like this one aimed at disrupting its operations. The group has faced setbacks from AMISOM and Somali forces since the Godane era.

Clinton, Gaddafi and Louis Farrakhan

Bill Clinton was just as vicious and racist as Donald J. Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. Read the report carefully and impartially and form your own opinion. Also, consider how Bill and Hillary Clinton handled Haiti. Bill and Hillary Clinton's involvement in Haiti is a controversial issue, primarily linked to disaster relief efforts following the 2010 earthquake. Even before the earthquake, Bill Clinton served as the UN Special Envoy for Haiti after the 2008 hurricanes and promoted economic development. As president, he authorized a US invasion in 1994 to reinstate the elected President Aristide. After the earthquake, which claimed over 200,000 lives, Bill Clinton became co-chairman of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC), which was tasked with coordinating $13 billion in aid. Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State, oversaw US aid and traveled to Haiti in 2011 to influence elections. Critics allege that much of the money flowed to international NGOs and companies instead of to Haitians – with accusations of corruption, moldy Clinton Foundation trailers, and padded contracts. The Clintons deny these allegations and emphasize direct aid distribution without personal profit. Nevertheless, the reconstruction remains incomplete, with persistent poverty. The Netardashals-Sick Mentality. Gaddafi made this promise during a visit to Niger. At this meeting, Gaddafi promised Farrakhan a donation of US$1 billion. That was in 1996. Louis Farrakhan

(the longtime leader of the Nation of Islam (NOI), a Black nationalist religious movement in the United States. Born Louis Eugene Walcott on May 11, 1933, he rose through the ranks of the NOI under Elijah Muhammad and became a prominent preacher after Malcolm X's departure and assassination) publicly pledged one billion dollars to empower African Americans, fund education, businesses, and strengthen local communities. He called it a "breakthrough" in America's wall, a direct blow against US imperialism from a hostile state. But the money never arrived. Days later, the US Treasury Department (OFAC) abruptly halted the deal. The reason? Libya had been on the state's list of state sponsors of terrorism, Pan Am 103, since 1986 and was subject to sanctions. The argument was that accepting the money would damage US foreign policy. Critics cried "foreign interference." Supporters whispered, “They blocked the economic freedom of Black people because the money came from the wrong source.” Farrakhan sued and lost. After years of fighting, he received a reduced fee of $250,000, but the billion dollars never arrived. Estimates and reports suggest sums between $20 million and $250 million flowed through various channels and in installments. Much of this money was used to fund the growth of businesses, media outlets (such as the newspaper The Final Call), and real estate owned by the Nation of Islam. Accepting the money further isolated Farrakhan from the mainstream of American politics and society and, in the eyes of his critics, confirmed his role as a radical and anti-American figure. Ask yourself: Why would anyone immediately reject a donation intended to improve the lives of Black people simply because it came from an enemy of the United States? Who truly feared an independent, funded Black movement? They don't care about people at all; they just want obedient slaves. They're keeping the Blacks in check. And the sheep don't even notice! The BLACK News

Fake Cancer Drugs in Kenya

Substandard and falsified medical products are a massive global problem, particularly acute in Kenya and other African countries due to specific supply chain challenges. The Kenyan Drugs and Toxins Agency (PPB) is warning the public about counterfeit cancer medications circulating worldwide. These counterfeit drugs contain no active ingredients and pose a serious risk to patients. Kenya is considered one of the most important pharmaceutical markets in East Africa, but it is also a major transit point for counterfeit products. The UN estimates that nearly 500,000 people die annually in sub-Saharan Africa from counterfeit medicines. Of these, approximately 170,000 deaths are attributed to counterfeit antibiotics for pneumonia in children. A global Interpol operation in 90 countries led to the seizure of over 50 million doses of illicit medicines worth USD 65 million by mid-2025. For the first time, "lifestyle products" such as counterfeit weight-loss injections (semaglutide) and erectile dysfunction medication were also a major focus. In a published statement, the agency announced that counterfeit versions of IBRANCE, a breast cancer drug, are circulating in several countries. Over 70% of medications consumed in Kenya are imported. Fragmented supply chains offer criminals numerous opportunities to introduce counterfeit goods. The most frequently counterfeited medications are antibiotics, malaria drugs, painkillers, and HIV/AIDS medications. Local recalls (e.g., by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board) also frequently involved quality defects in paracetamol and albendazole preparations in 2025. According to the PPB, the counterfeit pills contain absolutely nothing that could treat cancer. Nine batches of the counterfeit medications have been identified worldwide. Certain identification numbers have been classified as dangerous in Lebanon, Ivory Coast, Turkey, Egypt, and Libya. The global trade in counterfeit medicines is a multi-billion dollar business, often more lucrative than traditional drug trafficking. According to OECD data from 2025, the global trade in counterfeit goods amounts to approximately USD 467 billion (about 2.3% of world trade). Pharmaceuticals are among the most dangerous categories. https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/119469-warning-issued-over-fake-cancer-treatment-pills-containing-no-active-ingredients