Senior Counsel and city lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has expressed sharp criticism over the cooperation agreement signed on Tuesday, February 17, between the Nairobi City County government and the national government at State House.
The ceremony, attended by President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, formalized a framework for collaboration in key areas including roads, street lighting, solid waste management, and security.
The deal, framed as a constitutional partnership under the Intergovernmental Relations Act and the Urban Areas and Cities Act, is intended to address long-standing infrastructural and service delivery challenges in Nairobi.
President Ruto emphasized that the agreement was not a transfer of functions but a mechanism for national support to enhance city operations.
However, Ahmednasir Abdullahi has publicly lamented what he perceives as a complete abdication of the governor’s executive powers.
In a statement that has circulated widely on social media, the senior counsel criticized Sakaja for bypassing Nairobi residents, describing the arrangement as a betrayal of voter trust.
“I campaigned and voted for him as my Governor. I bought into both his alluring promises and belligerent polemics on how he will change Nairobi for the better,” Ahmednasir wrote.
He described being captivated by Sakaja’s youthful energy and bold rhetoric, which promised a new era of innovation and progress for the capital.
Four years into Sakaja’s tenure, Ahmednasir paints a starkly different picture. “Nairobi under his calamitous tenure is a shithole, the comfortable miasma for rats and rodents of similar genre,” he said.
He criticized the governor for “timorously and tremblingly” surrendering his mandate to the national government without informing the voters, calling the move a “secret elopement between State House and City Hall.”
Ahmednasir also reflected on the responsibilities of voters, expressing regret for having placed trust in leaders who fail to deliver.
“For all our chaos and problems, the stupid charlatans we elect to offices in Kenya, the buck stops with a STUPID voter like me. I'm ashamed of some of the choices I habitually make when I vote on polling day,” he stated.
While the cooperation agreement is officially positioned as a step toward improved governance and service delivery, Ahmednasir’s critique underscores a growing debate about accountability, transparency, and the limits of local leadership in Nairobi.
Residents and political analysts are watching closely to see whether the framework will deliver tangible improvements or deepen perceptions of disenfranchisement among Nairobi’s electorate.
The agreement, though aimed at collaboration, has ignited concerns that local autonomy may be undermined, prompting calls for more inclusive consultation between county governments and citizens before such deals are formalized.