An analysis of high-paying sectors in Kenya shows that Kenyans working in multinational organizations earn almost five times more than the average formally employed worker. The analysis is based on wage payment data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and reveals that workers in organizations operating across different countries can earn up to 13 times more than those in Kenya’s lowest paying sectors.
According to the KNBS data from 2021, on average, a worker in an extraterritorial organization earned Sh313,084, while the average worker in the country earned Sh68,953. This significant difference in pay highlights the income gap between Kenyans in the formal sector who work for multinational organizations and those in other sectors.
These findings have implications for addressing income inequality in Kenya, which remains a significant challenge. The government and other stakeholders may need to consider policies and strategies aimed at improving wages and working conditions in lower-paying sectors to reduce the income gap and promote greater economic inclusion.