Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has called on President William Ruto to urgently address the growing issue of pending bills in Nairobi County.

She has warned that the delay in payments is affecting livelihoods and stalling development efforts, particularly for the youth.

Speaking on Sunday, June 8, 2025, during a church service in Makadara, Nairobi, Nyamu expressed concern over the mounting debt owed to suppliers, contractors, and youth groups engaged in county projects.

“Our young people in Nairobi have worked, but they have not been paid. The pending bills issue is serious and must be addressed urgently,” she said.

Nyamu noted that many small businesses and youth-led initiatives had delivered services to the county government but had gone unpaid for months.

She urged the national government to intervene, saying the financial strain caused by the delays was undermining economic activity and trust in government programmes.

“The country is struggling to offset debts, and that is now affecting development. We cannot empower our people if we don’t pay them for work already done,” she added.

Controller of Budget directions

According to the Controller of Budget’s (COG) latest report, Nairobi County has Ksh118 billion, among the highest pending bills. The unpaid bills are linked to past and current projects, with many local contractors claiming they are on the verge of collapse due to delayed payments.

The COG Margaret Nyakang’o emphasized the need to clear debts owed to suppliers and contractors to improve services and business operations.

She advised county governments to prioritise settling these bills.

“The accumulation of pending bills negatively affects public service delivery and disrupts business operations. County governments are advised to prioritise the settlement of eligible pending bills as a first charge to their budgets in compliance with the law,” the report reads.

Nyamu, while raising the concern, also praised President Ruto’s leadership, describing him as “result-oriented” and capable of taking decisive action to ensure development goals are achieved.

“President Ruto is a result-oriented leader. He has shown commitment to transforming this country. That is why I believe he will act on the pending bills to unlock development in Nairobi and beyond,” Nyamu said.

She emphasised that settling the debts would not only support local businesses but also restore faith in government contracts and spur economic growth.

“If we want to see real development, we must start by honouring what is owed. That is how we empower our people and stimulate local economies,” she noted.

Nyamu also called on the Nairobi County Government to prioritise transparency and efficiency in its budgeting processes to avoid the accumulation of future debts.