Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has rubbished a fake social media post alleging that he called for the dismissal of 3,800 Green Army staff employed by the Nairobi City County Government.

The Green Army, formed under the Green Nairobi Department, is vital in environmental management across the city, handling garbage collection, cleaning public spaces, and maintaining overall hygiene.

The misleading post, shared from an account mimicking Babu Owino’s official X account, alleged that the MP had demanded the firing of the entire Green Army workforce following the garbage crisis near Stima Plaza. The post 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.”

However, the legislator quickly refuted the claims, affirming his support for the Green Army. “The Green Army should be respected and paid double the money they are getting currently. They work so hard, and yet they are paid nothing,” he stated in response on his official X account.

The fake post comes amid rising scrutiny on Nairobi County’s workforce after a recent report from the Auditor-General highlighted irregularities in the recruitment and management of county staff. The report for the 2023/2024 financial year flagged the hiring of 3,834 staff members without proper advertisement or transparent selection processes. It also exposed inconsistencies in salary payments, with some employees' salaries changing multiple times within a year.

Additionally, the Auditor-General questioned the competence of certain personnel occupying key county positions and revealed that the Nairobi County Assembly could not account for over Ksh905 million. The amount included unsupported salary advances, unverified travel expenses, and misclassified expenditures. The assembly had also failed to remit statutory deductions worth Ksh67 million.

The revelations have fueled public outcry, with many linking the irregularities to political undercurrents ahead of the 2027 elections. However, the Green Army’s contribution to the city's cleanliness efforts has drawn widespread praise, with calls for better pay and working conditions.

Babu Owino’s swift response aimed to dispel misinformation while emphasizing the importance of the Green Army in keeping Nairobi clean. The MP reiterated his support for the environmental workers, advocating for fair treatment and improved welfare.