Industrial unrest on the increase

Rising incidences of industrial unrest following Kenya's December transition are threatening the country's economy, already shattered by decades of corruption and mismanagement, an expert has warned. Kwame Owino, a programme officer at the Nairobi-based Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) told IRIN that demands for higher wages - "some of which are unreasonable" - by workers in the country, could not be supported by national industries. "One of the things they should take into account is that the industry is not ready to support the kind of wages they are demanding, both in the public and private sector," he added. Owino said the unrest was on the increase as there was "more democratic space", created in the aftermath of the December elections, which brought the opposition National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) to power. "The trade union movement was very weak under [ex-ruling party] KANU," Owino said. "With the transition, organisations representing workers are beginning to flex their muscles." Councillors, or elected civic leaders, are the latest to voice demands for a pay hike, calling for an increase of 2,000 percent. Their demand comes barely a month after the government approved a controversial proposal for hefty salary rises for members of parliament. The current NARC government is currently under pressure to increase teachers' salaries. Other groups demanding higher wages include doctors and nurses who have staged street protests. Owino blamed employers for using high levels of unemployment in the country to pay low wages.