President William Ruto has announced the national government’s plan to work closely with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to address illegal connections in Nairobi estates, following the signing of a cooperation agreement.
Speaking on Tuesday, February 17, during the signing of the National Government-Nairobi County Cooperation Pact at State House, Ruto clarified that the agreement does not amount to a takeover of county functions.
“What we are augmenting today is not a transfer of functions. For the avoidance of doubt, I have no interest in running the city of Nairobi; my hands are full. The governor and his team must run the city of Nairobi,” Ruto said.
Ruto added that the cooperation is for the enhancement of structured collaboration to strengthen the performance of the capital city in four key areas, including water and sewerage.
Earlier, the Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja, officially signed a cooperation deal with the national government in a move that will set the stage for collaboration in the management of key city functions.
Among the functions handed over are handling garbage, bridges, roads, and water supply in Nairobi County to the national government.
Nairobi Set for Major Upgrades
In his remarks, President William Ruto affirmed the national government’s commitment to modernizing Nairobi during the signing of the historic management agreement with Governor Johnson Sakaja.
Ruto highlighted ongoing investments in the city, including KSh 249 billion for housing, markets, and hostels, and promised major upgrades to key commercial hubs.
“We have signed contracts for 110,000 housing units in Nairobi City County. A 5-billion-shilling modern market will be built in Gikomba to present the correct face of the city,” Ruto said.
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He further explained the importance of Nairobi as the capital city of Kenya, adding that the deal would strengthen the city’s governance, functionality, and global competitiveness.
“This will strengthen Nairobi’s standing as a capital worthy of the republic itself, orderly, functional, competitive, and globally respected,” he stated.
He also assured that the signed agreement would undergo public participation and scrutiny by the Nairobi County Assembly to ensure transparency and community involvement before full implementation.
“The sooner we start, the sooner Nairobians benefit from modern infrastructure and efficient city management.”
Sakaja Signs Cooperation Deal with Ruto
In his speech, Governor Sakaja clarified that the deal did not transfer the mandate to the national government but rather sets the stage for collaboration.
He argued that the agreement will help Nairobi tackle illegal connections and enhance service delivery across the capital.
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Sakaja also noted that with the support of the national government, Nairobi has already increased the water supply by 140 million liters per day through the Northern Collector Tunnel, and plans are underway to add nearly 200 million liters daily through new water projects.
He stressed that the signed deal will help curb illegal water connections in Nairobi’s estates, ensuring residents have access to clean, regulated water while promoting order, dignity, and opportunity in the capital.
The Nairobi County Governor also described the partnership as a model of collaboration aimed at driving significant development in the City.
“Devolution is not a competition; devolution is a collaboration. A lot can be achieved when the two levels of government come together,” said Sakaja.
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