NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi City County employees are facing delays in the payment of their July 2026 salaries, placing fresh pressure on Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration as the county works to complete its budget processes.
In a circular to all staff dated Monday, August 10, the county government attributed the delay to the late approval and uploading of the County Budget, which it said had affected the processing and release of funds.
“The Nairobi City County Government wishes to inform all employees that there is a delay in the payment of July 2026 salaries, occasioned by the delay in the approval and uploading of the County Budget. This has affected the processing and release of funds,” the circular read.
The county apologised for the inconvenience caused by the delayed payments and assured employees that management had prioritised resolving the matter.
“Management sincerely regrets the inconvenience and challenges that this situation may cause and wishes to assure all staff that the matter is receiving the highest priority,” the letter added.
County Promises Faster Resolution
The county government said it was working to expedite the remaining administrative processes required before funds could be released.
According to the circular, employees will receive their salaries immediately after the County Budget is uploaded and the necessary processes are completed.
“Every effort is being made to expedite the necessary processes to facilitate the release of funds and ensure that salaries are paid immediately upon the uploading of the County Budget,” the county said.
The administration also acknowledged that the delay could create financial difficulties for employees and their families.
It urged workers to remain patient and continue performing their duties as officials work to resolve the issue.
“We recognize that this delay may occasion financial hardship to employees and their families,” the circular stated.
Questions Over Service Delivery
The salary delay has triggered debate over its potential impact on service delivery in the capital, with critics questioning whether county operations can continue smoothly if workers are not paid on time.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino questioned how the county would maintain essential services while its employees were awaiting their salaries.
“If Nairobi County workers cannot be paid, how will Nairobians continue receiving essential services?” he asked.
Babu further questioned how the county would maintain roads, supply medicines to health facilities, provide water, collect garbage and sustain other programmes if its workforce faced financial uncertainty.
The remarks have added political pressure on the Sakaja administration, which is responsible for managing one of Kenya’s largest and most complex county governments.
Debate Over County Finances
The salary delay has also sparked debate over Nairobi’s ability to finance its operations through locally generated revenue.
One social media user argued that the county should be able to sustain some of its operations through own-source revenue, including land rates, market charges and other levies collected from businesses and residents.
Another commentator questioned the leadership approach in Nairobi, arguing that the capital requires a more technically oriented administration.
The reactions reflect wider concerns over the county’s financial management and its ability to maintain uninterrupted public services while meeting its obligations to employees.
For Nairobi residents, the immediate concern is whether the salary delay will affect essential services if it persists. The county government has, however, maintained that efforts are underway to complete the budget process and facilitate payment as soon as funds are released.
