Protest broke out at City Hall on Wednesday, August 6, after Nairobi City County workers blocked senior officials from accessing or leaving the premises while demanding their unpaid salaries.
The standoff brought county operations to a halt, exposing once again the deep frustrations under Governor Johnson Sakaja’s leadership.
Workers say they have been pushed to the edge by delays that have become all too common. Their salaries are not just late, they are completely ignored, forcing them to borrow for food, rent, school fees, and other basic needs.
Union leaders Festus Ngare and Calvin Okello from the Kenya County Government Workers Union led the protest. They openly accused Sakaja’s administration of failing to honour financial commitments and treating public servants like an afterthought.
Workers blocked all entry and exit points at City Hall, surrounding official vehicles and refusing to move until they got answers. A video seen by MamboMseto254.co.ke captured the tense moment, showing angry staff chanting and barricading cars belonging to top county officials, turning City Hall into a protest zone.
This is not the first time the county workers have had to take to the streets. In September last year, they protested over salary increment delays, but even then, the administration gave vague promises that were never followed through.
Nairobi county workers at City Hall protesting against delays of salaries by Governor Johnson Sakaja. Photo courtesy/Cyprian Is Nyakundi/Facebook.
The County Public Service Board promised a schedule for promotions and redesignations, but many workers say they have seen no action. Allowances, per diem, overtime, imprest, and medical refunds remain unpaid despite earlier agreements.
What is most disturbing is the silence from Sakaja’s office. While workers suffer, the governor continues with public appearances and PR activities that have little to do with actual service delivery.
There has been no official statement from the county government about when the salaries will be paid, or why they were delayed in the first place. Staff have lost hope and patience. The situation is a clear sign of a failed system, where basic responsibilities like paying workers are treated as optional.
Nairobi’s county government appears more focused on image than accountability, and under Sakaja, the gap between leadership and the people who keep the city running is growing wider by the day.
