Nairobi DCP patron and former chairman of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) board Irungu Nyakera, has on Thursday, October 2, 2025, stated that Nairobi County is facing a deepening crisis as thousands of city workers remain unpaid for months, even as Governor Johnson Sakaja made headlines by spending thousands of shillings on a bull at the recent ASK Show.

According to Irungu Nyakera, the situation is alarming.

“Yesterday, Nairobi Governor Sakaja outbid President Ruto at the ASK Show, spending Ksh500,000 on a bull,” he noted, highlighting the contrast between the governor’s personal spending and the plight of county workers.

Nyakera described the dire conditions many workers are facing due to the delay in salaries.

Also watch: Sakaja explains why Nairobi streets are still dirty.

“Today, over 14,000 Nairobi County workers remain unpaid for three months. Some now sleep on the streets after being locked out by landlords, while others are reduced to begging just to survive,” he said, painting a grim picture of the human impact behind the financial delays.

The situation extends beyond general staff, with critical health workers now joining the protest over unpaid wages.

“And now, health workers are in the streets, declaring No Pay, No Healthcare. That’s how deep Nairobi has sunk,” Nyakera added, emphasising the potential strain on essential services in the city.

Nyakera called on citizens to reflect carefully on leadership choices.

“So, next time you elect your leaders, check their track records. Because if a governor can buy bulls while his workers starve, then maybe we chose a butcher, not a leader,” he warned, underscoring the political accountability aspect of the crisis.

The unpaid salaries have sparked outrage among the affected workers, with some, according to Nyakera, being forced to retain collected revenues instead of remitting them to the county treasury, simply to cover basic needs.

“Those tasked with collecting revenue are even forced to pocket it instead of remitting, just to feed their families,” he added

The cumulative impact of unpaid wages, rising living costs, and inadequate support measures has left many employees struggling to sustain themselves and their families.

The unfolding crisis in Nairobi raises serious questions about governance and prioritisation in the county administration. With thousands of workers struggling for survival while lavish spending grabs headlines, the pressure on city leadership to act promptly and transparently continues to mount.