NAIROBI, Kenya — Domestic workers and other low-income employees across Kenya are set to earn higher salaries following the implementation of revised minimum wage regulations issued by the Ministry of Labour.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua announced the new wage structure through a legal notice, confirming a 12 per cent increase in minimum monthly pay for domestic workers and other informal sector employees in major urban centres, in line with a directive issued by President William Ruto during this year’s Labour Day celebrations.
Under the revised wage order, domestic workers employed in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret will now earn a minimum monthly salary of Ksh18,047, up from Ksh16,113 in 2024.
The updated rates also apply to related categories of workers, including gardeners, house helps, watchmen, messengers and sweepers, all of whom fall under the domestic and general labour classification in urban employment sectors.
Domestic workers employed in former municipalities and other large urban centres will now receive a minimum monthly wage of Ksh16,650, while those working in smaller towns and rural areas will earn at least Ksh9,268 under the new wage structure.
The Ministry of Labour has directed employers to implement the revised pay scales immediately, warning that non-compliance will attract legal penalties, including fines of up to Ksh50,000, imprisonment for up to three months, or both.
The wage adjustments follow President Ruto’s announcement during Labour Day celebrations held in Vihiga County on May 1, 2026, where he confirmed a general 12 per cent salary increase across sectors and a 15 per cent increase for agricultural workers.
Speaking during the event, the President said the decision followed consultations with labour representatives, including the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), and was aimed at improving workers’ welfare amid rising living costs.
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“I am pleased to announce a 12 per cent increase in general wages and a 15 per cent increase in agricultural wages to all Kenyan workers,” Ruto said.
He added that the government’s objective was to cushion workers against inflationary pressures while strengthening household incomes and economic stability.
Beyond the wage review, President Ruto also directed the Ministry of Labour to operationalise sector-specific wage councils established under the Labour Relations Act, 2007, as part of broader reforms to streamline wage determination and enforcement across the country.
