Nairobi County workers gathered at City Hall on August 6, 2025, in protest over delayed salaries, blocking entrances and stopping county officials from accessing their offices.
The protest was led by union leaders Festus Ngare and Calvin Okello, who openly blamed the county government for repeated payment delays and general financial mismanagement.
The frustration from workers was clear and justified, as many said they had gone for months without pay, leaving them unable to meet their daily needs.
They carried vuvuzelas and chanted in anger, a reflection of deep dissatisfaction with the way things have been handled under Governor Johnson Sakaja’s leadership.
Sakaja came into office with promises to bring order to Nairobi, but nearly three years later, his administration is facing serious questions.
One of the key issues has been the constant delay in salaries for county staff, including health workers, cleaners, and other essential service providers.
This protest is only the latest in a string of similar actions that show how bad things have become. While the governor continues to blame delays on disbursements from the National Treasury, workers argue that the problem runs deeper.
They say it’s a matter of poor financial planning, misplaced priorities, and lack of accountability from the top.
There are also troubling claims about ghost workers on the payroll and billions in pending supplier payments. In September 2024, reports revealed that Nairobi owed suppliers more than Sh11 billion.
Meanwhile, revenue collection was said to be around Sh12.8 billion in the same financial year.
These numbers raise hard questions about how the funds are being managed and where the money is going. Union officials have accused Sakaja’s administration of making empty promises and ignoring the real problems on the ground.
The issue of employment formalization is also a concern. In July 2025, the governor said Green Army workers would be given permanent contracts, but little progress has been made.
Workers continue to complain of being overworked and underpaid while waiting for promises that never materialize.
This ongoing lack of action has created a sense of hopelessness among county staff.Other groups like Nairobi clinicians have also held protests this year. In March 2025, they demanded proper structures for career growth and fair treatment.
That protest, like the one at City Hall, was met with silence or vague responses from the county leadership. The pattern is becoming too common workers speak out, Sakaja gives excuses, and nothing really changes.
There are also concerns about how the governor handles dissent. In June 2025, allegations were made that he had hired individuals to disrupt protests, though he denied the claims.
Regardless of whether these claims are true, the optics of the situation are not good. People are starting to lose confidence in his ability to lead the city effectively.
His recent legal battles with the media, including an attempt to block coverage of negative reports, only make matters worse. Trying to silence the press instead of fixing the problems sends the wrong message.
The protest on August 6 is not just about salaries. It is a reflection of the larger failures in leadership and governance in Nairobi County.
