Nairobi City County employees are facing delays in the payment of their July 2026 salaries, placing additional pressure on the county administration led by Governor Johnson Sakaja.
In a circular to all staff dated Monday, August 10, the Nairobi City County Government explained that the delay was directly linked to the budget process.
"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 government apologised for the inconvenience caused by the delayed salaries and said the matter had been given priority by the management.
"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.
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The administration further said it was working to speed up the remaining processes required before funds could be released, with employees expected to receive their salaries immediately after the County Budget is uploaded.
"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 circular further read.
The county also acknowledged that the salary delay could create financial difficulties for workers and their families, urging employees to remain patient while the government works to address the situation.
"We recognize that this delay may occasion financial hardship to employees and their families. We therefore appeal to all staff to remain patient, understanding, and committed to the continued discharge of their duties as the County Government works diligently to resolve the matter," the letter noted.
The announcement has triggered reactions over the possible impact of the delay on service delivery, with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino questioning how the county would maintain essential services if its workers were not paid.
"If Nairobi County workers cannot be paid, how will Nairobians continue receiving essential services? How will roads be constructed and maintained, drugs supplied to health facilities, water provided to residents, garbage collected, jobs created, and bursaries issued to support our parents and students?" he posed.
Other reactions focused on the county's ability to raise revenue locally, with one social media user arguing that delays in the disbursement of funds should not necessarily affect county operations.
"Counties collect enough own sourced revenue from local taxes, land rates, market cess and other charges to businesses. Delay from the Treasury to release funds for counties should not be an excuse," he wrote.
Another social media user questioned the leadership approach in Nairobi and called for a shift in the type of leadership sought by residents.
"Nairobi needs a technocrat not a politician. It's high time we Nairobians must start thinking on that line," he opined.
Elsewhere, this comes days after President William Ruto instructed private security companies to ensure that they pay their employees the minimum wage.
Speaking on Thursday, August 6, Ruto made it clear that he would not entertain the security firms paying private security officers as low as Ksh6,000.
He directed the companies to effect the 15 percent minimum wage increase he had declared on June 1 during the Labour Day Celebrations.
Ruto stated that the executive order was the law and that all firms must operate within its confines. He made the sentiments after security guards intimated that they were still being paid substantial salaries.
"You have raised concern about your salaries. On June 1, I announced a 15 percent increase in the minimum wage, but I have been told that there are some companies which have not effected the change. Others are not even paying the minimum wage; instead, they are giving between Ksh6,000 and Ksh8,000.
"Our friends in the private security space, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Interior, and the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA), we must work collaboratively to ensure that every security company operates within the parameters of the law," he reiterated.
Ruto stated that he was willing to have a sit-down with the private security firms to address any challenges that may hinder them from paying the security guards the legal minimum wage.
He instructed the firms to ensure that they also submit the statutory deductions for their employees.
"As you pay their salaries, ensure that you pay their National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and Social Health Authority (SHA), so that they can have something to rely on once they retire," he added.
