Nairobi’s Ghost Payroll Scandal: Sakaja’s KSh47.6M Payout Exposed
Nairobi County under Governor Johnson Sakaja has been hit by revelations of paying KSh47.6 million to ghost workers in the 2024/25 financial year.
This scandal highlights persistent payroll fraud issues plaguing Kenyan devolved units, drawing sharp criticism amid ongoing audits.
Roots of the Ghost Workers Crisis
Ghost workers fictitious names on payrolls have long drained public coffers through manipulated HR systems and unverified hires.
In Nairobi, the payments surfaced in recent disclosures, fueling accusations of mismanagement despite Sakaja’s earlier tech-driven clean-up pledges in 2022.
Auditor General reports across counties, including nearly 600 untraceable workers pocketing Sh978 million, underscore the nationwide scale.
Financial Toll and Audit Findings
The KSh47.6 million loss represents salaries funneled to non-existent staff, part of broader county payroll irregularities.
Similar cases include Vihiga County’s Sh32 million ghost payouts and national health sector probes uncovering phantom employees. Nairobi’s figure adds to monthly claims of up to KSh639 million in ghost salaries, eroding funds for essential services.
The KSh47.6 million paid out in the 2024/25 financial year represents diverted public funds through ghost worker salaries.
Nationally, over 600 untraced county workers have received Sh978 million, raising systemic fraud concerns.
Related cases, such as health UHC ghosts and Vihiga County’s Sh32 million payout, highlight the need for ongoing audits.
Machakos, Mandera, and Kajiado were among the most affected. In Mandera, 49 of 99 sampled workers did not appear, raising questions about the Sh112 million paid to them.
In Kajiado, 94 of 189 sampled workers did not show up, despite repeated notices.
Nairobi’s absence rate stood at 30.3 percent, placing it within the national trend of worrying payroll inconsistencies.
Sakaja Administration’s Response and Challenges
Governor Sakaja previously announced biometric and digital verification to eliminate imposters, but the latest exposure raises questions on implementation.
Health workers have separately protested delayed pays and unremitted deductions under his leadership.
Critics link this to wider corruption, demanding EACC probes like those at National Museums.
This scandal erodes taxpayer trust, diverting resources from Nairobi’s roads, health, and housing needs. It mirrors devolution woes, with calls for stricter payroll audits and real-time tracking.
As 2026 budget talks loom, accountability measures could prevent recurrence amid Kenya’s fiscal pressures.