Mwamko Mpya

Something needs to be done ASAP

It is 1^st May once again , a day that the world celebrates Labour day. ‘International Workers' Day, also known as Labour Day in some countries ,is a celebration of  labourers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement, socialists, communists or anarchists and occurs every year on 1^st May, an ancient European spring festival.’ (Wikipedia)

In Kenya, the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) is the body that is the national trade union center in Kenya.Founded in 1965 upon the dissolution on the Kenya Federation of Labour and the African Workers' Congress. It closely liaises with Non Governmental Organizations of East Africa Trade Union (NGOEATU).

The secretary general of COTU Mr. Francis Atwoli has been vocal over the years in speaking out the pleas of the common ‘Mwananchi / Wanjiku’ especially in them getting pay hikes and getting better working conditions.

Life has become unbearable for most Kenyans in this day and age especially because of the inflation in our basic commodities especially food. Just to mention but a few maize flour, milk and sugar have doubled in their prices.

2017 being an election year in Kenya, most politicians are using the food prices inflation issue as a campaign strategy. The current government which is seeking for a second term come 8^th August 2017 has to work really hard to convince Kenyans what they will do that they failed to in their first term to lower the food prices.

My eyes are filled with tears when I imagine how a common ‘Mwananchi/Wanjiku’ is able to survive on a minimum wage of 200Ksh pay day .It is just a struggle living on such an income. Life has just changed over the generations. Bread no longer goes for 20Ksh,it’s now 50Ksh or even more depending on the brand, milk is another headache now a 500ML sachet costs as much as Ksh 65.

COTU wished for a 22% increase in salaries but from the President’s speech they will get a 18 % increment with the lowest earner now taking home approximately Ksh 14,868 monthly.

My prayer is that Kenyans vote wisely in the August 8^th Elections and that the elected leaders will be true to Kenyans on their said promises in their manifestos .That the leaders will be passionate about serving Kenyans and making Kenya a better country than they found it. To wrap it up the leaders should be able to leave Kenyans as an innovative lot so that they  will not be  dependent on the tips politicians dish out to them.

Kenyans want a developing country not a Kenya that stays still in terms of development. It’s time for Change.

Something needs to Change. Something needs to be done.

‘Mwamko Mpya’