Historic moment: Ruto to address Nairobi City MCAs this afternoon

President William Ruto will this afternoon, from 2.30 pm, address the Nairobi City County Assembly at their chambers in City Hall.

This marks the first time a sitting head of state will speak directly to Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) in their chambers since the introduction of devolution in 2010, making the event historic and precedent-setting.

The President is expected to elaborate on his agreement with Governor Johnson Sakaja, which outlines a Sh80 billion partnership.

Security has already been heightened in the Central Business District (CBD), and motorists have been advised to use alternative routes as some roads, including City Hall Way, will be partially closed.

Yesterday, Governor Sakaja convened a high-level coordination meeting to prepare for the President’s address. Discussions focused on harmonising security, logistics, and protocol arrangements to ensure the visit proceeds smoothly.

The meeting brought together the County Assembly Speaker and leadership, the County Commissioner, National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), regional police commanders, government reception officials, and State House protocol teams.

On Tuesday, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the Joint Committee on the National Government–Nairobi County Government Cooperation Agreement has established five subcommittees to support its work.

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

The subcommittees cover Legal, Finance, Governance and Communication, Roads and Infrastructure, Urban Planning, Environment, and Water and Sanitation.

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

He also announced the establishment of a Joint Secretariat, co-led by the Principal Secretary for Devolution and the Nairobi County Secretary, supported by the Principal Secretary for National Government Coordination.

The body is 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.

Officials have explained that the Cooperation Agreement is a structured framework to enhance development in Nairobi City County and improve service delivery, rather than a takeover.

Nairobi hosts 60% of the country’s economic, financial, and infrastructure activities, contributing 30% of Kenya’s GDP.

The agreement also provides for the conceptualisation of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit, recognising the importance of security to urban and economic activity.

Since devolution began sixteen years ago, no head of state has addressed any of the 47 county assemblies. This first-of-its-kind event has prompted Nairobi MCAs to adapt to new protocols.

To ensure compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, Parliament and county assemblies have established Standing Orders that guide debate and discussion following addresses by the executive.