Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has called for higher pay for security guards and a higher commission for drivers of digital-hailing taxis.
Sakaja accused private security companies of mistreating their workers by underpaying them, even when the government raises the minimum wage.
He spoke during Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi.
“Our guards spend the night at work and even work during the day, they are paid KSh 4,000 or KSh 5,000, yet you pronounce minimum wage above KSh 13,000,” Sakaja said.
The governor lamented that the guards spend nights in the cold protecting homes and property but are paid peanuts even when their employers charge exorbitant fees to their clients.
He claims that some private security firms charge between KSh 40,000 and 50,000 per guard but end up underpaying them significantly.
“Every labour day there is a pronouncement on minimum wage, sometimes it increases, sometimes it remains stagnant. Whenever you make that statement, the public sector is always quick to comply, but the private sector, tuko na shida (we have a problem).”
The governor also urged the Kenya Competition Authority and other stakeholders to help taxi drivers, who he claims are underpaid by taxi hailing companies.
“90% of the accidents we have is because these drivers have to drive for 22 hours a day to make money. The competition authority and the Automobile Association of Kenya can come up with a pricing formula for drivers to get something better,” Sakaja said.
He stated that his government has designated drop-off and pick-up points for taxi drivers within the Nairobi Central Business District to facilitate their work.
