Sakaja Set to Sign Nairobi Cooperation Pact with National Government at 3pm Today

A media invite circulated this morning confirms the signing of a cooperation agreement between the national government and Nairobi City County Government will take place at 3 p.m. today at State House, Nairobi. The event comes amid ongoing debate over the extent of national involvement in county functions, with Governor Johnson Sakaja repeatedly denying any outright handover of responsibilities.

Sakaja addressed the issue head-on last week during his appearance before the Nairobi County Assembly. He described circulating reports of a full transfer as fake news and stressed that no core functions had been ceded. He pointed to the legal framework under Article 187 of the Constitution, which governs any transfer of functions, requiring a formal deed signed by both parties. No such deed exists, he said, and the planned agreement instead represents targeted collaboration to address service delivery gaps without undermining devolution.

The cooperation targets three main areas long plagued by delays in Nairobi: water supply, road infrastructure and waste management. Discussions have highlighted the need for joint efforts on projects like the Maragua 4 Dam to boost daily water volumes significantly. The dam, planned in Murang'a County, aims to deliver substantial additional clean water to ease chronic shortages driven by population pressure. Nairobi's current supply struggles to meet demand, forcing many households to turn to private vendors or unreliable alternatives.

On roads, the pact is expected to commit resources toward tarmacking at least one kilometre per ward across the city's 85 wards. This would prioritise informal settlements where poor surfaces and drainage lead to flooding and restricted access, especially in rainy seasons. Kenya's broader road sector has faced widespread stalls, with many projects resuming only after clearance of massive pending contractor bills in recent years. In the capital, congestion and incomplete networks continue to impose heavy economic costs.

Waste management remains a persistent headache. The agreement looks set to advance plans for integrated transfer stations and localised cleanup drives. Nairobi produces vast amounts of solid waste daily, but collection reaches only a fraction, leaving the overburdened Dandora site and widespread illegal dumping that blocks drains and fuels floods. Recent national statements have floated relocating aspects of disposal, potentially to sites like Ruai, under joint funding.

This push for partnership echoes earlier interventions but with key differences. In 2020, under President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Nairobi Metropolitan Services assumed control of several functions from then-Governor Mike Sonko, delivering hospitals, markets and slum roads before winding down in 2022 amid funding disputes and staff concerns. Sakaja has referenced those experiences as a caution, insisting any current arrangement stays within the Urban Areas and Cities Act and preserves county authority.

County assembly members have weighed in cautiously. Minority Leader Anthony Kiragu supported cooperation as long as it delivers tangible results, while others stressed accountability. Sakaja maintains the deal aligns with Nairobi's dual status as county and national capital, where collaboration with central government is often necessary for large-scale infrastructure.

As the 3 p.m. ceremony approaches, construction stakeholders and residents await details on timelines, funding mechanisms and safeguards against past implementation failures. Clearances of stalled bills and coordinated execution could revive activity in a sector hit by delays nationwide. For now, the focus rests on what emerges from State House this afternoon and whether it translates into visible progress on the ground.