Popular radio presenter Maina Kageni has revealed that he pays his househelp KSh 50,000 per month, significantly above the newly announced minimum wage for domestic workers.
Speaking during his morning radio show alongside Mwalimu King’ang’i, the duo discussed the government’s directive setting the minimum monthly wage for domestic workers in major urban centres, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret, at KSh 18,047.
During the discussion, King’ang’i questioned whether the government had adequately considered the financial realities facing employers amid rising living costs and tax burdens.
Maina, however, defended the idea of paying domestic workers well, arguing that fair compensation is necessary to ensure they can afford decent living standards.
“You know I am a believer in a high minimum wage. I pay mine KSh 50,000. It is better. Where is she supposed to sleep, on the tree or on the floor?” he said.
The remarks have sparked debate online, with some Kenyans praising Maina for valuing domestic workers and paying above the minimum wage, while others noted that many households may struggle to match such salaries due to economic constraints.
The government’s new directive requires employers to comply with the revised wage structure, with authorities warning that failure to meet the legal minimum wage could attract penalties.
The conversation has also reignited broader discussions about domestic workers’ welfare, fair pay, workers’ rights and the cost of living in Kenya’s major cities.
