Nairobi City County Salary Delays Deepen Crisis for Frustrated Employees

Nairobi City County workers have not received their salaries for the month of March 2025. The delay has been blamed on the National Treasury’s failure to release funds to the county government on time. A circular sent to workers confirms the delay is due to the stalled disbursement of equitable share funds. While workers remain committed to duty, the delay has left many struggling to meet their daily needs. The salary delay is sparking fresh concerns about county financial management and accountability in national revenue sharing. The salary delays at Nairobi City County are a wake-up call. They expose cracks in Kenya’s system of devolution, from unreliable disbursements to unclear spending priorities. [Photo: Courtesy] Treasury Blamed as Salary Delays Hit Nairobi City County Workers Nairobi City County has pinned the blame for salary delays on the National Treasury. In an internal circular, the county government stated it had not received the equitable share of funds since January 2025. These funds are crucial to complement the county’s own revenue in running operations and paying staff. “There has been a delay in the disbursement of the equitable share, the last disbursement received being for January 2025,” reads part of the statement. The circular expressed regret over the delay and assured workers that they would be paid once the funds were released. However, no specific timeline was given, leaving many in financial limbo. “We regret to inform you that salaries for March 2025 will be delayed pending equitable share disbursement. We await action by the National Treasury to honour its constitutional and legal obligation to release equitable share on time,” the circular added. This year, Nairobi County is expected to receive a total of Ksh20.85 billion from the national government. This is on top of Ksh12.8 billion that the county collected in its own revenue in the last financial year. Despite these large allocations, workers still find themselves unpaid — a growing concern in a county that is supposed to be Kenya’s economic engine. Rising Tensions Over County Funds and Mismanagement Concerns The delay comes at a time when both Houses of Parliament are battling over how much money counties should receive. Governors, through the Council of Governors (CoG), have been demanding Ksh536.8 billion as their equitable share. But the National Assembly, through the Budget and Appropriations Committee, has recommended only Ksh405.1 billion. An additional Ksh10.58 billion was proposed for the equalisation fund. This tug of war has left counties exposed to operational delays — and workers unpaid. Many now question the financial discipline within counties, especially Nairobi, where despite a high budget, staff cannot receive timely salaries. County insiders who spoke to Nyakundi Report insisted that operations are ongoing despite the setbacks. “Our department is ok, and staff are motivated to work, for they have been made to understand about the ongoing delay in salary due to unavoidable circumstances,” said one county source. Still, motivation can only last so long. Workers are growing anxious as bills pile up. Some fear this could become a regular occurrence if the Treasury and counties do not find common ground on disbursement schedules and accountability. Observers say the situation could be a sign of deeper financial mismanagement or poor planning at the county level. Others accuse the National Treasury of using delays in disbursement as a political weapon. Either way, the workers are the ones paying the price. Nairobi County workers — from clerical staff to health officers and cleaners — keep the city moving. But now, their morale is at risk. And so is the delivery of critical services to residents. The delay also raises questions about how Nairobi’s Ksh12.8 billion in own-source revenue is being used. Why is it not enough to cover salaries, or at least part of them, in times of need? The Constitution requires the National Treasury to release funds to counties on time. Yet, this constitutional promise remains broken. As the blame game continues, Nairobi County workers continue to wait. Their patience is wearing thin — and the city’s reputation for poor service delivery may only get worse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiAL5P3vB0g