President William Ruto announced a significant increase in minimum wages during the 2026 Labour Day celebrations in Vihiga County.

• A 12% general wage increase for Kenyan workers and a 15% increase for agricultural workers.
• The announcement was made following a request from workers through the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), led by Secretary General Francis Atwoli.
• The wage hikes aim to improve worker welfare amidst rising living costs, though employers, represented by the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) CEO Jacqueline Mugo, have expressed concerns about potential business strains.

Members of the National Assembly are demanding immediate prosecution of employers who have failed to remit mandatory training levies to the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), citing a significant uncollected amount.

• Ksh194 million in training levies remains uncollected.
• The Public Investments Committee and NITA are key institutions involved.
• MPs criticized NITA for lax enforcement and weak debt collection mechanisms, despite existing legal provisions.

Kenya celebrated its 61st Labour Day with thousands gathering at Friends School Chavakali High in Vihiga County, a historic move marking the celebrations outside Nairobi. President William Ruto was expected to grace the event.

• The theme for this year's Labour Day in Kenya is "Strengthening Local Production and Protecting Workers' Rights," as announced by COTU-K.
• Key figures present included Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli.
• The celebrations occur amidst worker concerns over poor pay, double taxation, and shrinking revenues, with expectations for government action on salary increments and workers' rights.

Cabinet Secretary Mithika Mutua has reportedly informed President Ruto that the Kenyan labour sector has experienced significant growth, citing that "figures don't lie."

• The labour sector has seen growth, a point emphasized with the statement "figures don't lie."
• The key figure involved is Cabinet Secretary Mithika Mutua, addressing President Ruto.
• This statement was made by the Cabinet Secretary, highlighting the positive trend in the sector.

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli is demanding that President William Ruto's administration expedite the ratification of crucial international labour conventions, citing a lack of progress on previous commitments.

• COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli is pressuring the Kenyan government to ratify ILO Convention 189 (domestic workers) and ILO Convention 190 (violence and harassment in the workplace).
• The push comes after President William Ruto reportedly pledged to advance these ratifications during last year's Labour Day celebrations.
• Atwoli highlighted that these conventions are widely ratified globally and accused the Ministry of Labour of hindering the process, which he believes is vital for protecting domestic and informal sector workers.

President William Ruto addressed the nation during the 61st Labour Day celebrations held in Vihiga. The event focused on the significance of labour and worker rights in Kenya.

• The President delivered his remarks at the Vihiga County venue.
• Key figures from government and labour organizations were in attendance.
• The speech highlighted the government's commitment to improving working conditions and economic opportunities for Kenyans.

President William Ruto has declared that Kenya's economy is exhibiting stability, robustness, and resilience, citing numerous significant indicators to support his claim.

• Kenya's economy is described as steady, robust, and resilient.
• The statement was made by President Ruto.
• This declaration suggests a positive outlook on the nation's financial health amidst various global and local economic factors.

President William Ruto has announced a significant reduction in the deposit requirement for affordable housing projects, making homeownership more accessible.

• The deposit has been lowered to 5%.
• This initiative involves President William Ruto.
• The change aims to boost participation in the affordable housing program.

Workers across Kenya have commemorated the 61st Labour Day celebrations, with events held nationwide.

• The 61st Labour Day marked a significant occasion for workers' rights and recognition.
• This event involved participation from various workers across the country.
• The celebrations took place on Labour Day, a national holiday dedicated to honoring the contributions of the workforce.