A Kenyan man has sparked fierce debate online after boldly claiming that anyone paying their employee(s) KSh 10,000 or less is “courting disaster”, and, in his words, violating human decency.

A Kenyan man’s viral video triggers national debate on low pay

Identified as Moses Gathitu on TikTok, the man shared a brief yet thought-provoking video urging employers to pause and reflect on how workers earning Sh 10,000 or less manage to survive, especially in cities like Nairobi.

His short, fiery video calling out employers has stirred emotions, debates, and a full-blown confession fest in the comments.

According to Gathitu, workers in urban areas are hit the hardest. “In a place like Nairobi, the cheapest decent house could be Sh 4,000 or 5,000. They need to eat every day. They work from Monday to Saturday. They spend up to Sh 200 daily on transport. How do you expect them to survive?” he asked.

He went on to caution employers about the hidden costs of underpaying their staff.

“Let me tell you the truth. They’re probably taking money from your business or doing anything they can to earn extra cash and stay afloat. Think about it,” Gathitu said, diplomatically exposing a common reality: low wages often push workers to find ‘creative’ ways to make ends meet, sometimes at their employer’s expense.

His video lit a fire in the comments section, where Kenyans flooded in to share their experiences working under such conditions. The revelations were eye-opening, especially for employers who hadn’t considered how their low-pay policies might actually be costing them more in losses.

Many admitted they found ways to survive, some through side hustles, others by bending the rules. Some employers chimed in defensively, while others acknowledged the painful reality.

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Here are some of the standout reactions:

cosmas365: Kuna place nilikua nalipwa 15k per month, nlikua natengeza 5k zangu daily.

Caren Otuma ❣️: Nishai andikwa club na 8k. Nilikuwa naleta pombe zangu nauza zote, ndio niuze ya mwenye kazi. Nilikuwa napata profit ya 15k per day hadi nikafungua yangu.

jackiehwachera: Wait until you become an employer. If the 10k can’t sustain you — QUIT ‼️

Young Billionaire: I have more than 24 employees 😂😂😂 I pay them 21k each. I always try my best.

Meddykendi 😍: Kuna place I worked hapo Imenti kwa boutique — 10k. I used to stay at Kasarani Hunters… huyo mkamba alidhani nasurvive aje? 😂

Chairman: Nilikuwa nalipwa 4k after form 4 kwa hoteli. I used to make 500 per day for myself. I even prayed for more customers so the hotel wouldn’t shut down. 😂

Peter2027: Nalipwa 15k, but by end month nimesave 200k 😂😂😂 Boss aliona nikiendelea akanionea wivu, akanifuta.

Beth Mwangi: That 10k had me going to court. I was borrowing daily to top up for food and transport. Sasa deni ni 334k. Nililala kwa cell for four days before being taken to Kibera court.

The_Ranger: Nalipwa 12k, sijawahi complain. Rent is 7,500 and I eat daily. Uzuri sina baby mama ama girlfriend.

QUEEN 😘: Mmh nalipwa 5k, nafanya kila kitu kwa nyumba. Nikimuambia aniongeze anasema hiyo pesa ni mingi sana.

Mourine: Ningesema yangu 😂 but anajua nilikuwa mtu mzuri. Staki kuchoma but nilisave 35k za colle. 😂😂

Sheerow ❤️: Kumbe nyinyi wote ni wezi? Nashangaa mbona mimi husota 24/7! Kumbe mnaibia employers? Sasa mimi ntaibaje na haiko kwa damu? Aah!

NUMERO UNO WIG SERVICE’S K.E: Iba bora boss asichomeke 😂😂😂 Creativity ndio itakusaidia. Unaiba hadi boss akikushika anakupatia mshahara juu umepea idea hakuwa nayo.

Gathitu’s video may have sparked laughter and confessions, but it also laid bare a system that’s cracking under pressure.

Beyond the hilarious and at times shocking confessions, the comments reveal a harsh truth in Kenya’s job market as illustrated above: many businesses, especially in the informal sector, pay their staff below Sh 10,000.

In households, domestic workers often earn between Sh 5,000 and Sh 8,000. Those lucky enough to earn Sh 10,000 are considered well-compensated. A few generous employers pay upwards of Sh 20,000, typically in homes with several children and significant responsibilities.

Yet, in most cases, salaries for casual workers in the private sector remain unregulated. Wages are determined not by set standards, but by employer discretion or market trends.

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Government promises wage review, but workers still waiting

In 2024, President William Ruto directed the Ministry of Labour to engage stakeholders and raise the minimum wage by at least 6%. However, that directive remains largely unimplemented in many sectors.

During the 2025 Labour Day celebrations, there was no mention of a further minimum wage increase,  a letdown for workers already grappling with skyrocketing prices of essentials.

“You need to talk to the Federation of Kenyan Employers,” COTU boss Francis Atwoli told President Ruto on Labour Day. “You gave workers a 6% increase, but it hasn’t been implemented. There’s no day a president announces a salary increase and it becomes optional.”

As of November 1, 2024, the minimum wage in Kenya stood at around Sh 15,201 (117,65 US Dollars) per month following a 6%  in 2024. The increase saw workers earning below the minimum wage take home between Sh 480 and Sh 2000 more. But this is mostly on paper.

Disclaimer: Bizna Kenya does not condone or support any unethical or unlawful practices mentioned in the comments featured in this article. They have been included solely for public education and to highlight the realities many workers face in low-income employment settings.