Nothing to celebrate: Workers decry Labour Day amid hard times

Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli addressing at Solidarity Building, Nairobi on April 26, 2025, during their meeting with Union's Secretary Generals and Stewards ahead of May 1st Labour Day celebration. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] As the country awaits to celebrate Labour Day on May 1, Samson Bluma, a clinician working in Nairobi county, has spent the better part of the day on the streets, not hustling to put food on the table, but fighting for his rights. Speaking to The Standard on Wednesday outside the county offices, Bluma expressed his disappointment with how the employer has been treating with, "contempt." He said, this year's Labour Day, will be a reflection of the frustrations they have gone through as workers since "there is nothing to celebrate." "We cannot celebrate. We can't be celebrating unfair remuneration. We have nothing to celebrate until our demands are met," he said. "Our payslip is wanting," he adds as echoes of chants and the clatter of placards filled the place as striking workers voiced their deep frustration. "There's nothing to celebrate when your salary can't sustain even your basic need." For the past one week, Nairobi clinical officers have been on the streets demanding promotions, implementation of career progression guideline and posting of their five colleagues appointed exactly a year ago. Bluma's colleague, Farid Lokpapa, said "Our space is the corridors of hospitals but we are here to demand what belongs to us. We are not leaving the streets until we are heard." Lokpapa shared with his face drawn with exhaustion and determination. Businesses alike, are lamenting of unfavourable operating environment, saying they have "no hopes" and "zero expectations" of positive outcomes from Labour Day. Timothy Otieno, a florist at City Market said business continues to go down. "We are not selling as we used to do. In yester years there would be a flow of customers. We could display our products and one chooses according to their preferences," he told The Standard. According to Otieno, they majorly depend on referrals from former clients and taking initiative to approaching prospective customers as opposed to yesteryear's when customers would flock the shops. "Why would I go there when there's nothing to celebrate? he posed. "I will open my shop because at the end of the day there are people waiting for me to feed them at home," he shared. Festus Mutua, artefacts trader nearby, is equally feeling the hit of tough economic times. "The economy is unbearable," he said, adding, "I will open my business. There's no way you'll be celebrating without money in the pocket." "There is significant reduction in flow of customers which has forced us to lower the prices as well. What we would sell at Sh2,000 now goes for Sh1,500." Mutua said "lamentations are everywhere. We have no expectations tomorrow." They criticised the government for making empty promised, urging them to create enabling environment for businesses and employment. "It is high time the government actualised its promises. Don't give so many promises yet at the end of the day you don't fulfill even one. We want a working environment," he said. There's no hope," said Otieno. Similarly, workers lobby groups have expressed concerns over what they termed as mistreatment of employees across the country. "As Kenyan workers, we find nothing to celebrate reason being, the government have drained our payslips," Elias Mutuma, Secretary General of Kenya Union of Pharmaceutical Technologist (KNUPT). According to Mutuma, they are expecting the "normal government rhetoric that they'll increase wages by two per cent and increase taxes by five per cent." "We are calling upon unions to stand with workers and not go in bed with the government. They must stand true to their responsibility and the mandate given to them by Kenyan workers," he stated. The Knights Scrap Metal Association national chairperson, Evans Ng'ang'a said the sector is currently facing serious setbacks, accusing the government of allowing importation of the products into the country. "We have a serious effect, in terms of taxation and business operating environment," he said, revealing that 80 per cent of the business have closed down over the recent years. However, he expressed optimism towards growth of the sector, urging the government to intervene and help them address the challenges "We are going to be celebrating as other Kenyans. But we are asking President William Ruto to stop overtaxation and put more efforts in cut down the taxes to enable us employ more people," he said Gladys Nyambura, the organisations Secretary General said their call to government is to "assist us because business has been very tough. We are not able to do our business as we used to. Some have closed and those left are struggling. Protect us."

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Nothing to celebrate: Workers decry Labour Day amid hard times

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