Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has expressed optimism about clearing Nairobi County’s pending bills by the end of the financial year, despite inheriting a staggering KSh 107 billion in unpaid obligations. While appearing before the Senate Committee on Cohesion, chaired by Senator Mohammed Said, Sakaja reiterated his commitment to addressing the debt crisis.
“We have to scrutinize these bills thoroughly, but I am hopeful we shall pay them. The national government owes us KSh 120 billion, and we are optimistic they will pay us,” Sakaja stated.
A particularly contentious issue is the county’s pending bills to lawyers, which initially stood at an eye-watering KSh 21 billion.
“We can’t pay KSh 21 billion to lawyers. That’s an enormous sum, and we’re not in a position to settle it unless legal services are the only thing we’re supposed to do in Nairobi,” he said.
To resolve this issue, Sakaja established a task force to investigate the claims. Their findings were alarming: the actual amount owed was less than KSh 11 billion. This discrepancy suggested that the legal system was being manipulated for corruption and embezzlement.
In response, Sakaja proposed reforms to the county’s legal affairs, including hiring 50 lawyers to serve in various departments. The city boss believes that these measures will not only reduce the county’s debt but also restore trust in Nairobi’s administration.
“By bringing these services in-house, we can prevent such exaggerated claims and safeguard public funds,” he explained.
The Governor also highlighted the impact of the unified business permit, which consolidates multiple permits into one, simplifying operations for Nairobi residents.
“We used to have separate permits for fire, health, and business. Now, we have one permit covering everything,” he said.
Sakaja underscored the diversity within the county’s workforce, which employs over 16,000 people, including 172 individuals with disabilities. Although the workforce was previously dominated by those over 50, he noted efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity.
“These workers are not enough to serve over 5 million people, but we will address that in due time. I can confirm that ethnicity is balanced across all tribes, reflecting Nairobi’s cosmopolitan nature,” he stated.
The Governor emphasized that Nairobi’s 42 communities are well-represented in county operations and that efforts to empower youth, women, and people with disabilities through procurement opportunities are ongoing.
Reflecting on his career, Sakaja noted that he chaired a similar committee 10 years ago, at the age of 29, and has seen significant progress in fulfilling its mandate. His focus remains on reforming the county’s administration to ensure efficient service delivery and financial accountability.
