During Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Park Grounds, Nairobi governor Mike Sonko called for an increase in the amount of money allocated to counties, saying they are underfunded adding that the 15% allocation is not enough.
Sonko said he has had to struggle with the little amount allocated as his administration inherited Sh60 billion pending bills from his predecessor Evans Kidero.
“County governments have not refused to deliver services. Devolved functions must come with devolved money,” he said.
Sonko said his administration is also committed to increase salaries, but blamed salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for acting as the roadblock towards implementation of their 2017 CBA.
“This year we found ourselves in a unique situation when we supported a pay increase for county government staff only for SRC to oppose it,” he said.
Sonko also reiterated his waiver of over Sh172 million arrears owed by tenants living in houses owned by the county government.
He has however come under sharp criticism after reports that his government will spend Sh100 million to kill stray dogs in the next one year.
County Director of Veterinary Services Dr Muriithi Muhari said there were more than 50,000 stray dogs every year in the city.
The dogs, he noted, caused disturbance to various business activities, interrupted people attending medical centres, markets and bit school going children and caused road accidents.