Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino, has strongly dismissed a fake social media post that falsely claimed he called for the dismissal of 3,800 employees working for the Nairobi City County Government’s Green Army.
The Green Army, under the Green Nairobi Department, plays a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness across Nairobi, including managing waste collection, cleaning public spaces, and ensuring the city’s overall hygiene. The misleading post, which circulated on social media from a profile impersonating Owino’s official account, suggested that the MP had urged for the firing of all Green Army workers, accusing them of being “ghost workers.”
The post, which referenced a garbage management issue near Stima Plaza, read: “Sack all the 3,800 staff in the name of the Green Army; they are ghost workers. We can’t be paying ghost workers with taxpayer money.”
In response, Babu Owino quickly refuted the claims, expressing his full support for the Green Army. He clarified his stance through his official social media account, stating, “The Green Army should be respected and paid double the money they are currently getting. They work so hard, and yet they are paid nothing.” His statement underlined his appreciation for the dedication of the Green Army staff, who he said deserve better compensation for their hard work.
The fake post comes at a time when Nairobi County’s employment practices have come under scrutiny. A recent report by the Auditor-General for the 2023/2024 financial year revealed concerning findings about the county’s hiring practices. The report highlighted that 3,834 individuals were hired without proper advertisement or a transparent recruitment process. Additionally, it pointed out irregularities in salary management, with employees’ pay being altered multiple times within the year.
The Auditor-General also raised concerns about the competence of some individuals in senior positions, and revealed that Nairobi County Assembly could not account for over Ksh905 million in public funds, citing unsupported salary advances, unverified travel expenses, and misclassified expenditures. Furthermore, the Assembly failed to remit statutory deductions worth Ksh67 million.
These revelations have sparked public outcry, with many speculating that political dynamics related to the upcoming 2027 elections could be influencing these issues. Despite the controversy surrounding the management of county staff, the Green Army’s contributions to Nairobi’s environmental efforts have been widely praised, with calls for better pay and improved working conditions for its dedicated workers.
