National Government to Manage Major Nairobi Infrastructure and Services As Sakaja Cedes County Roles

The administration of Nairobi’s primary infrastructure and essential services is undergoing a formal realignment following a shared responsibility agreement between Governor Johnson Sakaja and President William Ruto. Under this new framework, the national government will take over the management of three key sectors that have long faced operational hurdles: roads, water supply, and waste management.

This decision marks a shift in the capital’s governance, as the national government assumes direct oversight of public works. This includes the construction and maintenance of the city’s road network as well as the implementation of affordable housing projects. The move is intended to address persistent infrastructure gaps and streamline the execution of large scale projects that require high levels of technical coordination and funding.

Water supply and collection have also been moved under the national government’s purview. Nairobi has struggled with aging pipes and inconsistent supply for years, and officials indicated that this transition aims to leverage national resources to stabilize the utility for millions of residents. Similarly, garbage collection and disposal, which has remained a point of contention regarding city cleanliness, will now be handled through national government channels.

While the agreement involves the ceding of these specific functions, government representatives have framed the deal as a collaborative partnership rather than a full takeover of the county administration. The arrangement follows a period of consultation aimed at identifying bottlenecks in service delivery that have slowed down urban renewal efforts.

The timing of this administrative shift coincides with significant fiscal planning at the state level. The Cabinet has recently endorsed a Ksh 4.7 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year. This budget, which is a notable increase from the previous fiscal cycle, sets a revenue target of Ksh 3.53 trillion. Within this financial plan, the government has prioritized infrastructure, energy, and health as core areas for development expenditure.

Under the 2026/27 fiscal framework, county governments are expected to receive a total of Ksh 495.7 trillion in transfers. This includes an equitable share of Ksh 420 billion and additional allocations aimed at supporting regional growth. The national government’s development budget has been set at Ksh 749.5 billion, a portion of which is expected to fund the newly assumed responsibilities in Nairobi.

For the construction sector, the involvement of the national government in Nairobi’s roads and housing is expected to influence how contracts are tendered and managed. By centralizing these public works, the state aims to accelerate the completion of stalled projects and coordinate urban planning more effectively with the Ministry of Roads and Transport.

This governance model draws parallels to previous interventions in the city’s management but is presented as a structured intergovernmental agreement. As the 2026/27 budget moves to Parliament for approval, the focus remains on how these transferred functions will be funded and whether the shift in management will result in a more efficient delivery of city infrastructure.