- Workers in over 21 counties face salary delays of up to two months.
- Budget disputes are disrupting payments and county services.
- Unions want counties allowed to pay workers amid disputes.
County employees in more than 21 devolved units are facing financial strain after delays in salary payments, with some workers going up to two months without pay.
The delays have hit both county executives and assemblies, leaving employees struggling to meet household expenses and forcing others to borrow. The timing is especially difficult, with schools reopening and parents needing to meet fees and other education costs.
Some counties have cleared their obligations, including Mombasa, Kisumu, Nyandarua, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Marsabit, Kilifi and Embu, where workers had received their June and July pay.
The crisis has been linked to delays and disputes around county budget approvals and compliance requirements, which have affected access to funds through the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).
Kenya County Government Workers Union secretary-general Roba Duda called for counties facing budgetary disputes to be allowed access to funds needed to pay employees.
Some counties had arranged salary advances with commercial banks, but these were affected after lenders terminated agreements when counties failed to repay them or switched accounts.
The issue emerged during the 30th ordinary session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council, where Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o said that by August 19, 41 of 47 counties had submitted their 2026/27 budgets.
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Of these, 32 had been approved, while seven, including Embu, Kisumu, Machakos, Meru, Siaya, Tana River and Trans Nzoia, had not submitted their documents.
Nyakang’o warned that continued delays risked financial paralysis, hindering withdrawals from County Revenue Funds and Assembly Funds and disrupting service delivery. She urged counties to submit budget and planning documents promptly to allow IFMIS clearance and uninterrupted programme implementation.
Council of Governors chairman Ahmed Abdullahi echoed the call, saying counties should be allowed to access part of their allocations to pay salaries even amid budget disputes.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the National Treasury had released all monthly allocations due to counties up to August, including July and August disbursements.
Despite this, a spot check found employees in several counties still awaiting one or two months’ salaries.
In Siaya, a dispute between the county executive and assembly has complicated payment of July salaries, compounded by the absence of a substantive Finance executive and disagreements over pending bills.
Acting County Secretary Elizabeth Adongo said in a memo that salary payment remains an immediate priority. The county’s Ksh11 billion budget was passed with amendments, though its Finance docket remains vacant after the assembly rejected a nominee.
Kisii had also not fully paid July salaries. County Secretary Ernest Osoro cited delays in approving and uploading the budget. Governor Simba Arati promised all his over 6,000 employees would be paid, though some said the money had yet to reach their accounts.
In the South Rift, Nakuru, Bomet and Kericho workers were still waiting, while Nyandarua and Narok had cleared payments. Bomet workers said they had gone two months without pay.
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At the Coast, Mombasa had paid its workers, while Taita-Taveta, Tana River and Lamu reported delays. Taita-Taveta’s Finance Executive Elijah Mwazo said the matter had been resolved. Kilifi had experienced no delays.
In Homa Bay, employees were still awaiting July salaries with no clear explanation, according to Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives Secretary Emmanuel Okevo. Similar challenges were reported in Turkana, Trans Nzoia, Baringo, Isiolo, Meru and Tharaka-Nithi.
In Turkana, County Secretary Richard Ekai said the administration was working to speed up payments.
In Trans Nzoia, more than 3,000 employees were yet to receive July salaries. Finance Executive Pepela Wanjala said the county was awaiting clearance after verifying budget figures with the National Treasury and Controller of Budget.
The continuing delays have placed thousands of devolved government employees under financial pressure, with unions and county leaders calling for a solution that lets workers get paid even as counties resolve outstanding budget and compliance issues.
By Jonathan Mwinzi
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