Five committees established to oversee implementation of Ruto-Sakaja deal

PCS Musalia Mudavadi and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during a joint meeting on Tuesday April, 7

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi says the Joint Committee on National Government-Nairobi County Government Cooperation Agreement established five subcommittees to aid in performing its duties.

“I am pleased to note that we have made measurable progress in establishing the governance and coordination architecture necessary to support implementation,” Mudavadi said.

According to the PCS, the subcommittees include Legal, Finance, Governance & Communication, Roads and Infrastructure, Urban Planning, Environment, and Water and Sanitation.

“These sub-committees have commenced the critical work of defining priorities, developing work plans, and aligning sector interventions to the commitments of the Cooperation Agreement,” Mudavadi said Tuesday evening during the second joint meeting, which he chaired at his Railways office.

He also announced that a Joint Secretariat, co-led by the Principal Secretary for Devolution and the Nairobi County Secretary, with the support of the Principal Secretary, National Government Coordination, has been established and is actively coordinating technical inputs, consolidating reports, and supporting monitoring and evaluation processes.

“This, colleagues, is a significant milestone. It demonstrates that the institutional machinery required to deliver this programme is firmly in motion,” he said.

The PCS restated that the Cooperation Agreement is not a take-over but a structured framework to develop Nairobi City County for better service delivery to its citizens and Kenyans, considering that 60% of economic, financial services, and infrastructure activities are concentrated in Nairobi, driving 30% of Kenya’s GDP.

“As we consider the Implementation Committee’s reports before us, it will be crucial to navigate the complexity of the task ahead. We are dealing with a large, multi-sectoral transformation programme, anchored on a budget framework of approximately Sh80 billion, cutting across water and sanitation, roads and infrastructure, environment, markets, communications and governance.”

Although the budget initially was Sh80 billion, Mudavadi hinted the amount may be revised upward to address the unfunded and partially funded projects, and overlaps across some sectors, particularly drainage, sewerage systems, river regeneration, flood control, and urban infrastructure that require rationalization.

First, on prioritisation, Mudavadi said the team must agree on a sequenced approach to implementation that focuses on high-impact, quick-win interventions while laying the foundation for long-term transformation.

“Second, on the financing strategy, we must guide the National Treasury, the county government, and our development partners on how to close the funding gaps, including through innovative financing, public-private partnerships, and development partner support,” he said.

The PCS told the joint committee that the programme must be fully compliant with the Constitution, the Intergovernmental Relations framework and all relevant statutes, while upholding the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and auditability.

“In this regard, I reiterate the need for a unified legal and governance framework, including a coordinated approach to the ongoing legal challenges facing the Cooperation Agreement. We must speak with one voice and defend this programme as a matter of national interest.”

Mudavadi added, “I can never re-emphasize more on the importance of maintaining strict adherence to the rule of law and to the principles of sound public financial management.”

He noted the progress made towards conceptualization of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit while adding that given the centrality of security to urban functionality and economic activity, he was urging the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to expedite the development of a clear policy, legal and operational framework for consideration by this committee.