Why some Kenyans are opposed to the 18 per cent salary increment announced by President Uhuru

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday increased the salaries of lowly paid workers by 18 percent in a bid to counter the high rate of living that a good number of Kenyans are grappling with.
This move has elicited mixed reactions from Kenyan with some appreciating the president for his initiative of ensuring that Kenyan workers at least bag an extra shilling at the end of the month.


On the other side, a section of some Kenyans didn’t welcome the move because of various reasons.They voiced their concerns about the increment and what it mean to the common mwananchi and producers who are employers.

For instant, some felt that the government should have tackled the inflation rate instead of raising wages because with a high rate of inflation the salary increment will not be of any help.

“Instead of tackling inflation, the government is raising wages.That's counterproductive your excellency. Kindly sit down with your cabinet and try to analyse this issue critically,” said Kenny Ken

Some admitted that the rate of inflation is real and the president knows that the common mwananchi is suffering.They urged the president and all Kenyans to critically look into this issue so that everything is sorted out.

“Tough times the reality commodities are going up every day that's a red alarm to Kenyans,but one thing we have to think what factors brings all this, because I know for sure the President is not blind nor deaf, the system and machinery of government are running well they are not asleep the pinch we are feeling every time we put our hands in our pockets to buy should not escalate to hatred finger free abuse we all have minds and wisdom the word 'nikubaya' it's all over the world and each part of the earth, every country has their word to describe 'nikubaya' lets give him a chance this has happened for about the last 3 months it will normalize,” said Geoffrey Chege


There are those who feel that by the president increasing salaries by 18 per cent he has done nothing favourable to the common mwananchi instead he has burdened the common mwanachi because it is not going to be easy for him.


“So sad that you can talk of salary increment and tax is being increased....stabilise the cost of living: housing, food, and security....no disrespect but you have done nothing much but worsened the situation for common mwanainchi,” added Jos Mbolomnyoi

Lastly some felt that the best the President was to reduce the tax rate in that it doesn’t affect the running of the government. They feel that this will render many Kenyans jobless because some of the companies which offer employment opportunities to Kenyans will relocate to other countries where they can operate under favorable conditions.

“Companies are closing from Kenya and relocating to Tanzania and Ethiopia where respective governments takes care of investors. Electricity in Kenya is high cost of production is high. Corruption is at its peak then because of coming elections you hoodwinking Kenyans with salary increase? How will government departments deliver if people are not paying taxes? How many employed people are earning the 100000 shillings in Kenya that can be taxed? The best thing you were to do is to reduce the tax rate for the low earners to lower side so that other government services not to be crippled. Today was a big mess,” said Naftal Nyamwange