President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja are set to oversee the signing of a cooperation agreement this afternoon at State House, a move that signals a renewed working arrangement between the national and county governments in the capital.
State House invited media houses to cover the event, which will see the two levels of government ink a deal to jointly handle development and service delivery projects in Nairobi. The agreement is anchored in Sections 5 and 6 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act and is aimed at improving service delivery in the city.
Concerns Over Devolution
The signing has drawn criticism from Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who warned that any agreement must strictly comply with the Constitution and safeguard the autonomy of county governments.
“The governor of Nairobi assured us he wasn’t transferring any functions to the national government. I’m surprised to see a scheduled signing ceremony at State House this afternoon,” Sifuna said.
“I remind Governor Sakaja to be mindful of the provisions of the constitution and the need for involvement of the electorate and the leadership of Nairobi prior to making such decisions. Any unconstitutional clawback to devolution shall be strenuously resisted,” he added.
His remarks reflect concerns that the new pact could mirror the 2020 arrangement that led to the formation of the now-defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
Sakaja Defends the Move
Speaking during his recent State of the County address, Sakaja sought to distinguish the current agreement from the era of former Governor Mike Sonko, when certain county functions were handed over to the national government.
“Members, I honour the mandate given to me by the people of Nairobi. They entrusted me with constitutional powers to transform this city and I will not betray that trust,” Sakaja said.
He maintained that while the national government will support some county projects and functions, this does not amount to a wholesale transfer of authority.
“The functions bestowed upon the county of Nairobi by the constitution shall remain the functions of the county. We shall not transfer any county functions. However, collaboration with the national government will continue,” he said.
Sakaja emphasized Nairobi’s unique position as the country’s capital, noting that structured cooperation with the national government is both inevitable and necessary.
Invoking the words of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Sakaja underscored the importance of protecting devolution even as the two levels of government pursue joint initiatives to enhance infrastructure and service delivery.
Legacy of NMS
During its tenure, NMS oversaw the rehabilitation of major roads, installation of streetlights, refurbishment of health centres and expansion of intensive care capacity during the Covid-19 pandemic. It also upgraded markets and spearheaded decongestion efforts in parts of the city.
Supporters credited the agency with accelerating stalled infrastructure projects and restoring order, while critics argued it undermined the spirit of devolution.
As the agreement is formalised, the focus will shift to its implementation — and whether it strengthens service delivery in Nairobi while remaining within the constitutional framework governing relations between the national and county governments.
