Nairobi Finance and Economic Planning Executive Committee member Gregory Mwakanongo reads the 2014/2015 draft budget on April 28, 2014 at City Hall. [PHOTO/nation.co.ke]
Nairobi County government is set to spend more to pay salaries in the next financial year.
In a Sh35.9 billion budget, City Hall factored in about Sh800 million to cater for the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) which they signed with workers of the Kenya County Government Workers Union.
Some more Sh252 million will go to paying an additional 600 City askaris.
Nairobi has also allocated Sh24 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh15 billion (43 per cent of the total revenue) for salaries as Sh11.8 billion will go to development.
Speaking at a public participation forum last week, County Executive of Finance Gregory Mwakanongo disclosed that they are struggling with a bloated workforce and that they target to reduce the burden by ensuring those of age can access voluntary retirement.
Mwakanongo added that the county also targets to undertake payroll cleaning, limit employment, adoption of technology, motivate early retirement with hefty sendoff packages and proper management of hiring effective labourers to trim the rising wage bill.