The Embakasi East MP brands the Governor's ceding of key Nairobi functions to President Ruto a "betrayal of devolution" and grounds for immediate resignation.

The political ceasefire in Nairobi has been shattered. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has launched a blistering offensive against Governor Johnson Sakaja, demanding his immediate resignation following a controversial "cooperation agreement" signed with President William Ruto. The deal, inked at State House on February 17, 2026, has ignited a firestorm about the autonomy of the capital city.

At the heart of the conflict is a legally binding pact that sees the National Government take over critical county functions: solid waste management, housing, and road infrastructure. While President Ruto and Governor Sakaja frame this as a partnership to unlock KSh 80 billion in investment, Owino views it as a surrender. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-15)"The Governor has confirmed he was given a job he is not qualified for," Owino declared in a stinging statement. "He has handed over the mandate given to him by the people of Nairobi to State House."

The Ghost of NMS Returns

For many political observers, this move echoes the controversial Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) era under the previous administration. Owino argues that by ceding these functions, Sakaja has admitted incompetence. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-17)"Despite collecting billions from Nairobians, he has given up on serving them," the MP charged. The agreement places Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi at the helm of a steering committee that will oversee these functions, effectively placing an unelected national official above the elected Governor in these sectors.

The timing is critical. Nairobi has been plagued by garbage crises and impassable roads during the recent rains. Sakaja’s administration has struggled to get a handle on the city’s waste, a failure that this new deal implicitly acknowledges. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-19)By bringing in the National Government, Sakaja admits the county lacks the capacity to handle its own filth.

• The Deal: A two-year binding agreement covering waste, water, housing, and roads.
• The Players: President Ruto (National) and Governor Sakaja (County), with Musalia Mudavadi as the overseer.
• The Money: A promised KSh 80 billion injection into Nairobi's infrastructure.

A Constitutional Crisis?

Owino has termed the move "the greatest attack on devolution since its inception." He warns that this sets a dangerous precedent where the National Government can slowly re-centralize power by citing county incompetence. "We will correct this in 2027 or sooner," he vowed, hinting at a sustained campaign to dislodge the Governor.

As the details of the deal emerge, the political temperature in Nairobi is rising. Sakaja stands accused of being a general who has surrendered his command, while Ruto is seen as the de facto Mayor of Nairobi. For the voter who cast a ballot for a Governor to fix their roads, the question remains: who is actually in charge of City Hall today?