The National Government is poised to sign a cooperation agreement with the Nairobi County Government at State House, in a move expected to streamline key functions and enhance service delivery in the capital. The pact, to be formalised between President William Ruto’s administration and Governor Johnson Sakaja’s government, seeks to address long-standing inefficiencies in essential urban services.
The agreement will prioritise critical sectors such as solid waste management, infrastructure development, and other core services that have faced operational and financial hurdles at City Hall. Under the arrangement, the national government will provide technical expertise, funding, and operational support to accelerate improvements for Nairobi’s rapidly growing population.
The planned partnership has drawn parallels to the 2020 transfer of functions that led to the creation of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), which temporarily managed several county functions to restore order and fast-track development projects. However, Governor Sakaja has maintained that the new framework is designed to foster collaboration rather than surrender the county’s constitutional mandate. He has reiterated that the goal is to strengthen service delivery through coordinated intergovernmental efforts.
Legal experts have underscored that any formal transfer of devolved functions must follow constitutional procedures, including approval by the Nairobi County Assembly and the signing of a deed of transfer specifying the roles, scope, and duration of the arrangement.
The cooperation deal comes at a time when Nairobi residents continue to demand better waste management, improved roads and drainage systems, and more efficient urban services. As the city grapples with rapid urbanisation, the partnership is expected to play a pivotal role in addressing its most pressing infrastructural and service delivery challenges.
