Nairobi City County workers are now in the second day of protest outside Governor Johnson Sakaja’s office, demanding their unpaid salaries and remittance of Social Health Authority contributions.
The workers, drawn from various departments, say they have not received their pay for three months, which has caused serious financial struggles.
They have blocked vehicles belonging to senior officials at City Hall and vowed not to return to work until the issue is resolved. Their frustrations reflect deeper problems within the county administration, especially in how it manages its funds.
The Kenya County Government Workers Union, led by Festus Ngare and Calvin Okello, has taken charge of the protest. They say this is not the first time the county has failed to meet its obligations.
A recent strike was called off after promises were made to pay allowances and other dues, but those promises seem to have been forgotten. Now, workers say they can no longer meet basic household needs.
Many were seen sitting on the ground, others standing with documents in hand, clearly showing how desperate the situation has become.What angers many is that while salaries are delayed, the county still finds money to fund beautification projects and other public relations programs.
Social media users have strongly criticized this, pointing out the contradiction in spending millions on roads and decorations while staff sleep hungry. One user questioned how the county could talk about increased revenue collection last month, yet now claim they have no money for salaries. Another suggested that funds might be getting misused, saying the public would be angry if they knew how much money was being siphoned off for unnecessary services.
With a monthly wage bill of about 1.5 billion shillings, many are now asking where the 4.5 billion meant for salaries over the past three months has gone.
Some are wondering whether the central government disbursed the funds or whether the county is mismanaging its own collections.
Either way, silence from Sakaja’s office is not helping the situation. There’s no official communication or plan to address the matter, and that’s making things worse.
This protest is not just about money it’s about respect for the people who keep the city running. Without cleaners, clerks, inspectors, and other workers, nothing in Nairobi functions.
Yet, the county leadership appears more focused on appearances than solutions. If Sakaja wants to restore trust and order, he must stop ignoring these workers and prioritize fixing the financial mess in his administration. The longer he waits, the deeper the damage to his leadership and the city he claims to serve.
