Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has defended his administration over delayed salary payments, blaming the National Treasury for failing to release counties’ equitable share on time.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Jambo on Thursday morning, Sakaja explained that Nairobi has not received its allocation for the past two months, forcing the county to rely solely on its own-source revenue to pay workers, an arrangement he admitted is unsustainable.
“The salaries for this month were delayed because Nairobi County receives an equitable share and also generates its own revenue. We have not received the equitable share for two months,” Sakaja said.
He added that he had met with Treasury officials, who assured him the disbursement would be released soon, attributing the delay to the government’s efforts to settle international debts.
Sakaja also insisted that Nairobi’s salary delays “have never surpassed one month” and stressed the need to strengthen local revenue streams to reduce reliance on Treasury funds.
His remarks came a day after the Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGU) Nairobi branch accused the county of violating an August 11, 2025 return-to-work agreement that required salaries to be paid by the fifth of each month.
KCGU branch secretary Calvince Okello lamented that staff had not received July and August salaries or third-party remittances, leaving workers struggling to pay bills and sustain their livelihoods.
