City MCAs approve Ruto–Sakaja deal to boost Nairobi services

The Nairobi County Assembly voted unanimously to approve a major cooperation agreement between the national government and the Nairobi County Government aimed at improving public services and infrastructure across the city.

The agreement signed by President William Ruto and Governor Johnson Sakaja provides for an injection of Sh80 billion in additional funding to support key sectors such as roadworks, provision of clean water, waste management, drainage, and other essential services that city residents rely on.

During the assembly debate, members emphasised that the partnership is designed to help complete stalled development projects and strengthen service delivery, particularly in areas that have long faced challenges due to limited county resources.

A 21-member joint committee, led by the County Assembly Speaker Ken Ng’ondi, guided public consultations and helped secure the assembly’s endorsement of the deal. According to lawmakers, the consultations showed strong support from Nairobi residents for the framework.

Assembly Majority Leader Peter Imwatok told the House that the cooperation pact is a major opportunity to unlock much-needed investment for Nairobi’s development and that proper oversight mechanisms have been built into the agreement to ensure accountability.

At the same time, tensions remain within the assembly. A section of MCAs, led by Minority Leader Waithera Chege, has renewed efforts to impeach Governor Sakaja, accusing him of failing to deliver on earlier development promises. They plan to present a new impeachment motion and have reportedly gathered signatures to support the effort.

Under the cooperation framework, all funds are to be managed through established accountability structures, including parliamentary oversight and auditing, and will not be transferred directly into county accounts.

 Supporters of the deal argue it will accelerate infrastructural improvements and service delivery across Nairobi, while critics fear the partnership could risk weakening county autonomy if not properly managed.

In summary, the assembly’s approval marks a key step in efforts to leverage national and county cooperation to address long-standing service delivery challenges in Kenya’s capital.