President Uhuru Kenyatta has awarded labourers a basic pay increase of five per cent.

The announcement was made by Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection Ukur Yattani at this year’s Labour Day celebrations in Nairobi County.

The increase is 13 per cent less that last year’s 18 per cent increment that the president gave.

The increase however comes on the backdrop of caution by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers.

The body’s chief executive Phyllis Wakiaga on Monday cautioned that any increment in wages would plough back slow gains made from a turbulent 2017.

Yattani while reading the statement however said the increment was to cushion labourers from the high cost of basic commodities.