Nairobi residents are once again staring at the ugly face of poor leadership after it was revealed that the county government under Johnson Sakaja spent more than KSh 800 million on both local and foreign trips in the last financial year.
The new report by the county budget controller lays bare how public money was misused while residents continued to cry about poor services. The report points out that a huge share of the funds was directed towards travel allowances, air tickets, and per diems for the governor, executives, and Members of the County Assembly, leaving behind stalled projects that directly affect people’s lives.
Instead of focusing on fixing basic problems such as healthcare, water, and road maintenance, county leaders have turned Nairobi into a cash cow for their own luxury. Millions were pumped into foreign trips that had little to no connection with the real challenges facing the city.
Leaders who are supposed to serve the people chose to enjoy trips abroad and endless allowances, a trend that has exposed the greed within the county leadership. Residents are being forced to live with broken roads, frequent water shortages, and collapsing healthcare facilities while their leaders take pride in expensive air tickets and hotel stays in foreign capitals.
The report clearly shows how misplaced priorities have become the norm under Sakaja’s leadership. Civil society groups and Nairobi residents have strongly condemned the findings, calling them a disgrace to a county that should be leading by example.
Many have accused the leadership of openly misusing taxpayer money while pretending to care about service delivery. The Controller of Budget has warned that if the habit of approving unnecessary trips continues unchecked, Nairobi will not achieve any meaningful development.
The situation paints a sad picture of betrayal, as the same leaders who promised accountability and improved services are the ones drowning in wastage and greed.
Calls for investigations have grown louder, with demands that those responsible be held accountable. What stands out is the arrogance of county officials who ignore the plight of residents struggling with high living costs, poor sanitation, and incomplete projects, only to prioritize their own luxury travel.
Nairobi has now become a symbol of failed leadership, where billions meant to transform lives are swallowed by questionable expenditures. Under Sakaja, the city is sinking deeper into debt and poor services, and the latest report is proof that the county government has lost touch with the needs of its people.
Residents continue to shoulder the weight of corruption and reckless spending while their leaders jet off to enjoy allowances. This scandal is not just about wasted money, it is about the deliberate neglect of a county that deserves better leadership and honest service.
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