Sakaja defends Nairobi salary payments as county wage bill pressure persists

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has defended the county government's record on salary payments, asserting that employees are generally paid in a timely manner. Sakaja explained that the delay in July 2026 salaries was due to the transition into the new financial year and the need to upload the new county budget. He emphasized that this was not a recurring issue, as only one salary delay occurred at the start of the financial year.

The governor also clarified that there is a single payroll for all county employees, including the governor, CECs, and other officials. Sakaja stated that the July salaries were ultimately paid in August, followed by the August payroll. The governor also revealed that Nairobi has established an arrangement with its banking partners to help employees during delays in receiving funds from the national government.

However, the salary issue persists as county governments grapple with rising personnel costs. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission reported that 41 of Kenya's 47 counties were above the 35% personnel-emoluments-to-revenue threshold during the 2025/2026 second quarter, with Nairobi included in this group.