Nairobi City County workers have camped outside Governor Johnson Sakaja’s office for two straight days, demanding payment for three months of unpaid salaries and SHA contributions.
These workers, who play a key role in keeping Nairobi running, say they will not go back to work until their demands are fully addressed.
Their protest, which began on August 6, 2025, at City Hall, has involved blocking vehicles of senior officials and chanting in unison, showing how frustrated they are.
Nairobi county workers protests for the second day. Photo courtesy/The Standard.
The action is being led by Kenya County Government Workers Union leaders Festus Ngare and Calvin Okello.
This situation has brought back attention to how Governor Sakaja’s administration is handling county finances.
This is not the first protest by county workers over the same issue.
In March 2025, workers under the Dishi na County program raised similar concerns over unpaid salaries and unexplained deductions.
In February 2024, there was another strike over unpaid retirement benefits and statutory deductions.
Nairobi county workers at city hall demanding there delayed pay from county government. Photo credit/The Standard.
These repeated protests suggest that the problem has been ongoing and that there is no proper solution in place.
One of the most troubling concerns is the report that Nairobi County paid KSh 146 million to former NMS staff despite their contracts having expired.
This decision has raised serious questions about how money is being spent in the county and whether priorities are in the right place.
While current workers are left without pay for months, funds are being directed elsewhere, creating tension and mistrust.
In July 2025, it was reported that revenue collection fell short due to El Niño disruptions and political protests, affecting the county’s ability to meet its KSh 19.9 billion target. However, this explanation does not fully answer why salaries have not been paid.
If the monthly wage bill is KSh 1.5 billion, then over three months, KSh 4.5 billion is required. Many are now asking where this money has gone.
So far, the county has not given a clear timeline for paying the workers. A promotion schedule has been announced by the County Public Service Board, but that does not address the current crisis.
In the past, strikes were called off after the county promised to handle unpaid allowances, per diem, overtime, and medical refunds, yet the workers are once again in the same position.
Their decision to stop working has affected key services in the city and put pressure on the county government to act. As of now, the protest continues, with no solution in sight.
