NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 17 – Wages paid to Nairobi County employees have surged to Sh17.3 billion as of June 2025, up from Sh6 billion in 2022, new data shows, reflecting a sharp rise in hiring by City Hall.
A special audit by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu attributes the increase to a jump in staff numbers from 5,777 to 16,321 during the period.
The ballooning wage bill has constrained the county’s ability to fund development projects, with staff salaries consuming a significant share of its revenues.
In the 2023/2024 fiscal year, Nairobi County collected Sh12.8 billion from own-source revenue, ranking top among the 47 counties. Together with the equitable share and grants, the county’s total revenue reached Sh33.3 billion.
