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Nairobi City County delays salaries and freezes new hiring
Nairobi City County is facing significant administrative and financial challenges, including a delay in July 2026 salary payments for its employees. The county administration attributed the delay to difficulties in the approval and uploading of the county budget. Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali stated that efforts are underway to expedite the process and release funds as soon as the budget is uploaded.
In an effort to manage the wage bill, the administration under Governor Johnson Sakaja has implemented a freeze on all new hiring, including interns and casual workers. New recruitment is prohibited unless it involves replacing staff lost through natural attrition, and even then, it requires prior approval from the County Treasury.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has criticized the delay, warning that unpaid workers could lead to the disruption of essential services such as healthcare, water supply, road construction, and garbage collection. Additionally, the Nairobi County Assembly has moved to address the county's financial obligations, passing a motion that requires the administration to present a 90-day plan to settle verified pending bills owed to suppliers and contractors.
Entities
Babu Owino · Godfrey Akumali · Johnson Sakaja · Nairobi City County · Nairobi County Assembly
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] July 2026 salaries for Nairobi City County employees have been delayed due to issues with approving and uploading the county budget. www.pulse.co.ke
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Any new hiring or replacements due to natural attrition must receive prior approval from the County Treasury. www.kenyans.co.ke
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Nairobi County Assembly passed a motion giving Governor Johnson Sakaja 90 days to create a plan to settle pending bills to suppliers and contractors. www.pulse.co.ke
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The county has frozen the recruitment of all new staff, including interns and casual workers, to control the wage bill. www.kenyans.co.ke
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Embakasi East MP Babu Owino warned that salary delays could disrupt essential services such as healthcare, water, and garbage collection.