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United Democratic Alliance Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu wants a review of the minimum wage due to the high cost of living and economic situations.

In her motion tabled before the House, Nyamu argued that labour is one of the most important factors of production which is very critical to the growth and development of any economy.

A minimum wage is the lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their employees—the price floor below which employees may not sell their labour. The first-term senator charged that the last time the government increased the minimum wage was in 2022 by 12 per cent which made the lowest worker to earn a paltry Sh15,120.

“I, therefore, recommend that the current minimum wage be increased by 50 per cent and the Cabinet Secretary for Labour in consultation with the wage council and in accordance with the Labour Institution Act, 2007 publish a new order to increase the minimum wage by 50 per cent,” said Nyamu in her petition.

He said the current minimum wage is too little in the wake of the high cost of living and the ever-rising cost of commodities.