‘Cooking Books’: Sakaja Faces Fresh Crisis as MCAs Demand For The Location of Nairobi Pay Servers

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is facing mounting pressure from ward representatives who are demanding full disclosure of the county’s revenue collection system, casting doubt on the authenticity of reported financial figures.

The controversy erupted during a heated committee session at City Hall, where Members of the County Assembly accused the governor’s administration of presenting “cooked” revenue figures without providing supporting documentation.

The legislators are specifically demanding to know the exact location of Nairobi Pay servers, the digital platform used to collect millions of shillings in daily county revenue.

Mark Ruyi, the ICT Committee Chairperson and Hospital Ward MCA, led the charge in calling for transparency, insisting that the county executive provide certified copies of bank statements showing revenue collected in previous financial years.

The demand comes amid growing skepticism about the county’s financial management practices.

“Where are the servers of this system located? How much is actually collected beyond the figures they announce? How come we cannot pay salaries when the county collects revenue every day?” questioned Kayole Central MCA Jeremiah Themendu, highlighting the disconnect between reported collections and the county’s apparent cash flow problems.

The timing of these demands is particularly significant, coming just after County Secretary Godfrey Akumali announced delays in August 2025 salary payments, blaming late disbursements from the National Treasury.

This explanation has failed to satisfy the MCAs, who point to the county’s daily revenue collections as evidence that funds should be available.

Mike Gumo, the Innovation and Digital Economy Executive, attempted to deflect responsibility by claiming his department lacks access to the revenue system and bank accounts.

He explained that only Chief Officer for Finance Asha Abdi, as the sole signatory, can produce the required financial statements.

This explanation has done little to quell the legislators’ concerns. Mathare North MCA Oscar Lore emphasized the fundamental problem facing oversight efforts, stating that without detailed revenue documents, it becomes impossible to verify the county’s reported collections.

The dispute has broader implications for Nairobi’s financial credibility. While the county reported record collections of Sh13.7 billion in the last financial year, this figure fell short of the Sh20 billion target. More troubling for transparency advocates is the revelation that external auditors have been denied access to the revenue system for two years, severely hampering verification efforts.

The auditors’ frustration has reached a breaking point, with some resigning due to budget cuts and their inability to access crucial financial systems.

Letters to Governor Sakaja seeking system access have reportedly gone unanswered, further fueling suspicions about the county’s financial operations.

Adding to the administration’s woes is the stalled work of a separate ad hoc committee formed in 2023 to investigate revenue losses.

Despite consuming millions of shillings in over 20 meetings, this committee has failed to produce any report, with members blaming each other for the deadlock.

The current crisis represents another chapter in City Hall’s troubled financial history, following controversies that plagued previous administrations under Evans Kidero and Mike Sonko.

For Sakaja, who campaigned on promises of improved governance and transparency, these allegations pose a significant threat to his political credibility.

The MCAs have made it clear that they will not relent in their oversight responsibilities, demanding that the county executive present comprehensive financial documents to enable effective monitoring of revenue collection and expenditure.

Until these demands are met, questions about the authenticity of Nairobi’s revenue figures are likely to persist, casting a shadow over the governor’s administration.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​