As Kenyan workers celebrate Labour Day on Monday, May 1, the country was ranked among the top in Africa with the highest average salary per worker.
Data released by Salary Explorer in April 2023 showed that the average salary in Kenya was Ksh147,000 per month.
In the higher percentile, Kenyans earned salaries as high as Ksh656,000 per month while in the lower percentile, Kenyans earned a salary of Ksh37,100.
With an average salary of Ksh147,000, Kenya made it into the top five list in Africa, position four specifically.
The top countries in Africa from the most paid included; Morocco, South Africa, Seychelles, Kenya and Namibia.
In Morocco, the average salary was Ksh259,760 while in South Africa, citizens earn an average of Ksh232,832 per month.
Similarly, in Seychelles, the average salary is Ksh206,312 and Namibians closing the top five list an average monthly salary of Ksh130,152.
Economist Fred Ogola, while appearing on K24 TV, on Monday, May 1, warned Kenyans of taking the data at face value.
He remarked that while the statistics were accurate, they should not be used to paint a picture of the current economic status.
“When we are looking at the average wage in South Africa, it can go as high as Ksh260,000 while in Kenya, it can be up to Ksh190,000.
“This does not mean that we are doing as well as South Africa. Our figures are high because of the existing salary disparity,” he explained.
Ogolla remarked that a few Kenyans earned exorbitant amounts pushing the average high hence distorting the reality in terms of income.
“We have some Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in Kenya who earn as much as Ksh36 million a month while other Kenyans earn a minimum wage of Ksh15,120,” he stated.
The economist revealed that the disparity in salaries was creating inequality in the country.
“That is why when some are crying about the high cost of living, others have nothing to worry about,” he remarked.
