The County Government Workers Union–Kenya (COGWU-K) has presented a memorandum of grievances to the Nairobi City County Executive, calling for urgent reforms to improve workers’ welfare and service delivery.
The memorandum was formally issued on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, during the unveiling of newly elected union officials for the 2026–2031 term. The union held its elections on January 17, 2026, ushering in a new leadership team headed by Chairman Samuel Mugweru and Vice Chairperson Stephen Ogesa. Calvince Okello was elected Secretary, with Lucy Wanjiru as Deputy Secretary, Rose Wandia as Treasurer, and Wilfrida Walo as Assistant Treasurer. Other officials include Susan Akinyi (Women Leader), Peris Wangui (Assistant Women Leader), Vincent Agunda (Youth Leader), and Byron Ambata representing persons with disabilities.
Addressing the County Executive, the union said it intends to pursue a consultative rather than confrontational approach in its engagement with the county government, emphasizing that constructive dialogue is key to enhancing productivity and improving service delivery to Nairobi residents.
Among the key issues raised is low county revenue collection, which the union said directly affects workers’ welfare. COGWU-K proposed closer collaboration with county management to strengthen revenue mobilization.
The union also raised concerns over healthcare, noting that the current Social Health Authority (SHA) cover is not functioning. It demanded immediate tendering for a new health insurance provider within one month. Additionally, the union said premiums for the Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA) and Group Personal Accident (GPA) covers have not been paid, denying injured workers compensation. It further called on the county to settle medical bills and compensation for families of three workers who died during the period without insurance cover.
COGWU-K demanded immediate implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) registered on May 28, 2025, including payment of accrued arrears. The union also protested persistent delays in salary payments, urging the county to ensure salaries are paid by the 5th of every month starting January 2026.
Other grievances include stalled promotions and unfair career progression, failure to pay uniform allowances directly to entitled officers, political interference by some MCAs in administrative duties, breaches of staff data privacy, and exclusion of the union from the county’s budgetary process.
The memorandum was signed by Nairobi Branch Secretary Calvince Okello, who said the union remains committed to working with the county leadership to safeguard workers’ rights while improving efficiency in county operations.
