Residents’ associations and community groups have raised legal, financial and administrative concerns over Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s plan to create new administrative units to bring county services closer to residents.
The concerns emerged during consultations on the Draft Nairobi City County Boroughs Administration and Coordination Policy 2026, which proposes introducing an administrative layer, the boroughs, between City Hall headquarters and ward offices.
According to the document, the groups want City Hall to review or withdraw the proposed framework, warning that creating additional offices and management positions could increase public spending and divert resources from essential services.
The Kilimani Community Foundation called for the proposal to be withdrawn, arguing that Nairobi should strengthen existing sub-county and ward offices instead of establishing additional structures.
The foundation noted that recurrent expenditure already accounts for approximately 70 per cent of the county budget, raising concerns about the cost of implementing the new system.
“Rejects inserting a “Borough” layer between HQ and existing subcounties/wards, noting it duplicates administrative structures, inflates recurrent expenditure (already ~70% of County budget), and fails to bring decision-making closer to residents.
Withdraw the proposal to establish “Boroughs” as a new administrative tier; redirect resources, staffing, and delegated authority toward strengthening existing sub- counties and ward offices (such as the Kilimani Ward office),” read part of the statement.
Meanwhile, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) questioned the legal basis for establishing the new offices, arguing that existing legislation already provides for citizen service centres.
The society also warned that appointing additional managers could increase the county’s wage bill.
Residents Oppose Sakaja’s Plan to Appoint Borough Managers
Northern Block Residents Ltd, which represents neighbourhoods including Muthaiga, Gigiri, Kitisuru, Spring Valley, Runda and Rosslyn, opposed provisions allowing the County Secretary to appoint managers at their discretion.
The association proposed that the County Public Service Board conduct competitive recruitment, with managers serving fixed four-year terms.
It also suggested creating a Borough Equalization Fund through which a portion of locally collected property rates and business permit revenue would be set aside to support service delivery in the proposed administrative units.
The Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA) raised concerns about possible conflicts between the proposed units and the national government’s administrative structure in Nairobi, which divides the city into three sub-regions: West, East and North.
KARA also called for mandatory estate-level public notices before approving commercial rezoning or environmental variations.
Also Read: Sakaja Announces New Nairobi Zoning Plan, Issues 21-Day Notice
State Department Flags 23 Concerns
The State Department for Devolution identified 23 legal and technical concerns in a memorandum on the proposed policy, pointing to gaps in the implementation plan, financing arrangements and division of responsibilities between government agencies.
The department recommended a costed implementation plan and a phased rollout over 12 to 24 months, beginning with a pilot unit before any countywide expansion.
It also urged Nairobi County to ensure the proposed structures comply with the Public Finance Management Act and County Revenue Fund rules to prevent the creation of revenue systems outside established financial controls.
Peace at Heart Initiatives Network separately asked the Nairobi County Assembly to defer approval until it receives a comprehensive functional review and fiscal impact assessment.
The organization warned that spending on offices, vehicles and additional staff could divert resources from healthcare, sanitation and roads.
Also Read: Sakaja Sends Warning to Nairobi Developers
City Hall Defends the Proposal
County officials defended the plan during a public participation forum held at Charter Hall on July 2, 2026, saying it would improve coordination and reduce delays in delivering services to residents.
According to the official public participation report, 308 people attended the consultation, and county officials reported that 99 per cent supported the policy’s core objective of bringing services closer to residents.
County Executive Committee Member for Boroughs Administration SG Mwangi and Chief Officer Bernard Kiala said the proposed units would function as local coordination centres rather than create another layer of government.
However, the submissions from residents’ groups, legal professionals and government agencies have placed the proposed framework under scrutiny, with stakeholders calling for legal clarity, financial safeguards and a detailed implementation plan before it proceeds.
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