The Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU) led by General Roba Duba are struggling to make ends meet as a severe financial crisis leaves thousands without pay for several months. The widespread salary delays have triggered protests and raised serious concerns about the sustainability of local government operations.
“I haven’t received my salary for three months now. How am I supposed to feed my family or pay school fees?” says John Kimani, a county administrative officer who requested we use a pseudonym to protect his identity.
The crisis, which has affected workers in multiple counties, stems from a complex web of financial mismanagement, insufficient budget allocations, and administrative challenges. Local government employees, from healthcare workers to administrative staff, find themselves caught in the crossfire of these institutional failures.
Many workers have resorted to desperate measures to survive. Some have taken high-interest loans from local lenders, while others have moved their children to less expensive schools. The situation has become so dire that several employees report skipping meals to save money.
Sarah Muthoni, a county public health officer, describes the devastating impact on her colleagues. “We come to work every day because we care about our communities, but how long can we continue without pay? Some of my colleagues can’t even afford bus fare to come to work anymore.”
The crisis has sparked a wave of protests across affected counties. Last week, hundreds of workers gathered outside various county headquarters, demanding immediate payment of their overdue salaries. The demonstrations have disrupted public services, affecting everything from waste collection to healthcare delivery.
Local union representatives point to systemic issues in county financial management. “This is not just about late payments. It’s about a broken system that needs urgent reform,” explains David Ochieng, a local government workers’ union representative. “We need better oversight of county finances and more transparent budget allocation processes.”
The impact extends beyond the workers themselves. Local businesses that depend on county employees’ spending power report significant drops in sales. Small shop owners and service providers in county headquarters towns have seen their customer base shrink as workers tighten their belts.
Mary Wanjiku, who runs a small restaurant near a county office complex, says her business has suffered tremendously. “Most of my customers were county workers. Now they can’t afford to buy lunch here anymore. My daily sales have dropped by more than half.”
Financial experts have identified several key factors contributing to the crisis. Poor financial planning and management at the county level has played a significant role, alongside persistent delays in disbursement of funds from the national government. The misallocation of available resources has further complicated the situation, while weak oversight mechanisms in county financial systems have allowed these problems to persist unchecked.
The situation has caught the attention of national authorities. The Council of Governors has called for emergency meetings to address the crisis. They are exploring both short-term solutions to clear the salary backlog and long-term measures to prevent future occurrences.
“We acknowledge the severity of this crisis and its impact on our hardworking county employees,” states the Council’s spokesperson. “We are working with the national treasury to expedite fund releases and implement stricter financial controls.”
The Council has outlined several critical solutions to address the crisis. Emergency funding releases from the national government top their priority list, alongside the implementation of automated payment systems. They have also proposed enhanced oversight of county financial management, complemented by regular audits of county spending. Additionally, they plan to introduce stricter penalties for financial mismanagement to prevent future crises.
However, workers remain sceptical of these promises. Many have heard similar commitments before, only to face continued delays in salary payments. The trust deficit between county administrations and their employees continues to widen.
The crisis has also raised questions about the effectiveness of devolution. Critics argue that the current system needs significant reforms to ensure stable and efficient county operations. Supporters maintain that the problem lies not with the system itself but with its implementation.
As the crisis continues, its effects ripple through local communities. Essential services are at risk of collapse as more workers consider strike action or seek alternative employment. The situation threatens to undermine the gains made through devolution over the past decade.
Local civil society organisations have stepped in to help affected workers. Several groups have established emergency support programs, offering food assistance and basic necessities to the most affected families. However, these measures provide only temporary relief in what appears to be a deepening crisis requiring urgent structural solutions.
