A cooperation agreement signed Tuesday between the national government and Nairobi City County Government has ignited sharp political debate, with critics questioning whether the capital’s autonomy is being quietly diluted under the guise of service reform.
Governor Johnson Sakaja and President William Ruto sealed the pact at State House, pledging to work jointly to improve service delivery and restore order in the struggling city.
The agreement commits the national government to inject about Sh80 billion into critical infrastructure and urban services.
Supporters say the deal is a pragmatic intervention aimed at fixing a city plagued by failing services.
However, opponents argue the arrangement risks transferring core county functions back to the national government — evoking memories of the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services, which previously managed key functions in the capital.
The Standard on Wednesday framed the agreement as “putting the city on sale,” reflecting a growing perception among critics that the county leadership may be relinquishing authority.
The governor, who rose to office on a promise to make Nairobi work, now faces accusations from political rivals that he has surrendered responsibilities he once vowed to defend.
Allies, however, insist the pact does not strip the county of its constitutional mandate. They argue that cooperation between the two levels of government is necessary given Nairobi’s status as the country’s economic hub and its influence on national growth.
The agreement targets long-standing urban challenges including garbage collection, traffic congestion, water shortages, drainage, and street lighting. It also proposes stronger coordination on security and urban planning.
For many residents, the political contest matters less than results. Years of mounting waste, unreliable water supply, and worsening traffic have eroded confidence in city management.
Urban governance experts note that Nairobi’s structural challenges require multi-level coordination and sustained financing.
They argue that the success or failure of the new framework will depend on transparency, accountability, and clarity in roles between the county and national agencies.
As political tempers rise, Nairobians now watch closely to see whether the cooperation will deliver tangible improvements — or deepen fears of central control over the capital’s future.