Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o /FILE
With barely a year left to the end of their term, governors are on the spot over a Sh45.85 billion rise in county wage bills since they were elected in August 2022
An analysis by the Star shows Nairobi, Bungoma, Mombasa and Homa Bay have recorded the highest increases in personnel expenditure since the current governors took office.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration leads the pack, with the county wage bill rising by Sh3.02 billion in four years, from Sh14.79 billion during the Nairobi Metropolitan Services-City Hall era to Sh17.81 billion by June 30, 2026.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka’s wage bill has increased by Sh2.32 billion, rising from Sh5.20 billion on June 30, 2022, to Sh7.53 billion by June 30, 2026.
In Mombasa, Governor Abdulswamad Nassir inherited a wage bill of Sh5.56 billion from former Governor Hassan Joho’s administration. The county’s wage bill has since risen by Sh2.27 billion.
Homa Bay, under Governor Gladys Wanga, has also recorded a significant increase of Sh2.08 billion during the period.
All the leading counties are headed by first-term governors who were elected into office in August 2022 – just a month into the 2022-23 financial year.
The Star analysed county expenditure reports by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o for 2022, when the current governors assumed office, and the latest report covering the financial year ended June 30, 2026.
The analysis shows several other counties have recorded increases of more than Sh1 billion in their wage bills during the four years.
Nakuru’s wage bill has risen by Sh1.70 billion since Governor Susan Kihika took charge, while Uasin Gishu, under Governor Jonathan Bii, has recorded an increase of Sh1.63 billion.
Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu’s county has seen its wage bill rise by Sh1.90 billion, while Marsabit, headed by Governor Mohamud Ali, recorded an increase of Sh1.48 billion.
Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai’s wage bill rose by Sh1.61 billion, while Siaya, under Governor James Orengo, recorded an increase of Sh1.32 billion.
Other counties with increases of more than Sh1 billion include Kajiado, where Governor Joseph Lenku’s wage bill rose by Sh1.87 billion, and Kakamega, under Governor Fernandes Barasa, which recorded an increase of Sh1.10 billion.
Makueni, headed by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, recorded a rise of Sh1.91 billion in its wage bill, while Mandera, under Governor Mohamed Khalif, recorded an increase of Sh1.97 billion.
Nyakang’o has advised devolved units to implement payroll containment measures and bring their wage bills within the 35 per cent threshold provided for under Section 107(2) of the Public Finance Management Act by June 30, 2028.
The deadline was agreed upon during the Wage Bill and Productivity Conference held in April 2024.
“The counties should conduct payroll audits, control recruitment, rationalise staff, enforce approved establishment limits and migrate manual payroll data to the approved human resource information systems,” Nyakang’o said.
“Further, all personnel planning should be linked to the wage bill ceiling and available revenues before approving new hires or salary-related commitments.”
The Controller of Budget warned the growing wage bill is eating into resources that should otherwise be available for development and service delivery.
“The high wage bill constrains resources available for development and service delivery, given that compensation of employees is a recurrent expenditure and should be prioritised before discretionary development spending,” Nyakang’o said.
The latest figures are likely to put governors under increased pressure as counties struggle to balance personnel costs with spending on roads, health, water, markets and other development programmes.
Erratic hiring, irregular engagement of casual workers, alleged ghost workers and excessive compensation of county employees have repeatedly been cited as some of the factors driving up personnel costs.
Community Initiative Action Group-Kenya CEO Chris Owala said governors often increase their workforce after assuming office, sometimes to satisfy political interests.
“When a new governor comes, they seek to hire new workers for political expediency. You wonder why a county has 100 directors or more than the required number of enforcement officers,” Owala said.
A report of the Senate Public Accounts Committee on Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s report on county executives for the 2023-24 financial year also raised concern over the growing wage burden in counties.
The report warned that devolved units have increasingly become employment bureaus at the expense of service delivery and development.
It shows some counties spent as much as 60 per cent of their revenues on salaries, despite the statutory requirement that personnel costs should not exceed 35 per cent of county revenue.
The report found 36 county executives exceeded the 35 per cent threshold.
“Only 11 counties complied with the 35 per cent wage bill ceiling, while 16 counties exceeded 50 per cent of their revenue on wages, severely constraining operational and development budgets,” the report reads.
The wage pressure cuts across the country and has been cited as a ticking time-bomb if not contained, with the cost having hit Sh1.3 trillion as of June this year.
In Kericho, Governor Eric Mutai’s administration recorded a Sh989 million increase in its wage bill since 2022, while Kitui Governor Julius Malombe’s wage bill rose by Sh896 million.
Tharaka Nithi, under Governor Muthomi Njuki, recorded a Sh974 million increase.
Other increases were recorded in Migori, where Governor Ochillo Ayacko’s wage bill rose by Sh889 million; Samburu, under Governor Lati Lelelit, where it increased by Sh891 million; Taita Taveta, headed by Governor Andrew Mwadime, where it rose by Sh905 million; and Wajir, under Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, where the wage bill increased by Sh814 million.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati’s wage bill increased by Sh790 million, while Murang’a, under Governor Irungu Kang’ata, recorded an increase of Sh635 million.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga’s county also witnessed a Sh777 million rise in its wage bill.
Only Machakos recorded a reduction in the period under review, with its wage bill dropping by Sh32 million.
The rising personnel costs come as counties face mounting demands for development and service delivery amid constrained revenues.
Treasury recently indicated it would engage professional human resource managers to help advise on how the country’s wage bill can be reduced to sustainable levels.
