Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is no longer just under scrutiny. He is being called out, and rightly so, over a bloated advisory structure that is costing taxpayers millions while duplicating roles that already exist within the county.
Seven advisors, each earning about Ksh203,000, for what exactly. That is the question senators are now asking, and it is the same question Nairobi residents should be asking too.
Because the county already has County Executive Committee members and chief officers assigned to these same dockets. Creating parallel positions is not reform. It is excess.
Senate Committee chair Moses Kajwang’ put it plainly. A governor should understand the responsibility of the office before taking it up, not outsource core functions to advisors.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during a past media engagement. Photo: Johson Sakaja Source: Facebook
That statement cuts to the heart of the matter. Leadership is not about surrounding yourself with more titles. It is about using the system already in place to deliver results.
And then there is the cost. Nearly Ksh10 million spent on advisors in a county that cannot get basic services right. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was clear.
That money is not pocket change. It is public money, and it demands accountability. Every shilling spent must translate into service. Right now, it does not.
What makes it worse is Sakaja’s absence. When called to explain, he did not show up. That sends the wrong message.
Oversight is not optional. Ignoring the Senate only reinforces the perception of an administration that is either unwilling or unable to account for its decisions.
All this is happening as Nairobi faces real problems. Floods have killed dozens. Families have been displaced. Drainage systems are failing. Residents are struggling.
Yet instead of tightening operations and focusing on delivery, City Hall appears to be expanding its payroll in ways that raise more questions than answers.
The Ksh80 billion cooperation deal with the national government has already drawn criticism over lack of public participation. Now, the advisor issue adds to a growing list of concerns around how decisions are being made and who benefits from them.
Sakaja says he is ready to make tough decisions. But tough decisions are not about adding more advisors. They are about fixing what is broken, using the structures already funded by taxpayers, and showing up when called to account.
At this point, Nairobi does not need more explanations. It needs answers. And Sakaja owes the city exactly that.