PRESS RELEASE ON UNPAID STAFF SALARIES OF NAIROBI CITY COUNTY.
First, I wish to pass my sincere apologies to the entire staff of Nairobi City County over delayed payment of September salaries. This is highly regrettable; nevertheless it is being addressed with the urgency it deserves.
However, it is unfortunate that the delay has been occasioned by sabotage in the Finance Department led by the outgoing Executive Committee Member in charge of Finance who deliberately refused to make a formal request to the Controller of Budget to release funds on time.
The Law is clear that all revenue generated and banked in commercial banks must first be swept and deposited at the Central Bank Revenue Fund and that upon depositing; no monies can be withdrawn from a Revenue Fund unless the Controller of Budget has approved such withdrawals. On the other hand, Article 207 of the Constitution prohibits spending of revenue collected at source.
I personally intervened and had a lengthy discussion with the Controller of Budget Mrs. Agnes Odhiambo over the matter and was shocked to learn that my finance department had not requested for release of funds despite my many requests to them.
To address this unfortunate occurrence, I have reached a decision to reorganize the Finance Department and soon heads will roll. It has further come to my attention that the matter is a fight back plot by a cartel from Finance, Legal, Rates and Revenue Departments who upon leaving office vowed to paralyze operations at City Hall.
I shall not be intimidated by any one/ cartel and no amount of threats shall make me give roadside executive orders against the constitution to please a few individuals.
It is therefore my sincere hope that the Nairobi City County staff will bear with us during this difficult period as we await approval from the Controller of Budget. Efforts are being made to ensure such delays do not re-occur in the future.
H.E Mike Mbuvi Sonko,
Governor, Nairobi City County
