President William Ruto has disclosed that calling him ‘Zakayo’ is not a problem, as long as Kenyans continue paying taxes for the sake of building Kenya.

President Ruto made the remarks on May 1, 2024 during Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi.

“Calling me ‘Zakayo’ is not a problem, as long as we pay our taxes and build Kenya. You can continue calling me that,” said President William Ruto.

Speaking during the 59th Labour Day celebrations, President Ruto also called for an increase in the minimum wage to ensure workers are fairly compensated for their work.

The president directed Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore to spearhead the process of raising the minimum wage by at least 6 percent.

“I urge the relevant authorities, particularly the Ministry of Labour, to convene a meeting with the appropriate committee to discuss and implement a minimum wage increase of at least 6 percent,” said President Ruto.

At the same time, the President urged striking doctors to return to work and ensure essential services continue uninterrupted, adding that the government has resolved most of their demands. 

On the other hand, COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli called for a 22.5 percent pay increment for workers, citing depreciating shilling.