Governor Sakaja Johnson has set the wheels of his city decentralization plan in motion, challenging the six newly appointed borough managers to overhaul service delivery across Nairobi. In their first official meeting on Thursday, December 4, Sakaja emphasized that their success will be measured by tangible improvements in the daily lives of residents, not by reports filed at City Hall.

This administrative overhaul, which divides the capital into six distinct boroughs, is a high-stakes bid to dismantle bureaucratic bottlenecks that have long plagued Nairobians. The core mission is to bring governance closer to the people, making critical services like garbage collection, water supply, and road maintenance more responsive to neighbourhood-specific needs.

A New Blueprint for City Hall

The creation of the boroughs—Central, Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern, and South Eastern—is the culmination of a plan that evolved from an initial proposal of five divisions. Each borough will be headed by a manager responsible for coordinating all county functions within their area, effectively acting as a mini-mayor accountable to the residents they serve. Sakaja noted their role is to provide real-time feedback and strengthen interdepartmental coordination, eliminating frustrating delays for citizens.

The new administrative structure is as follows:

• Central Borough: Led by Charles Mabonga, covering Starehe, Mathare, and Kamukunji.
• Eastern Borough: Headed by George Muga, covering Embakasi North, Embakasi West, and Embakasi Central.
• Western Borough: Overseen by Janet Kimeu, covering Westlands, Dagoretti North, and Dagoretti South.
• South Eastern Borough: Managed by John Saruni, covering Embakasi South, Embakasi East, and Makadara.
• Southern Borough: Headed by Dabasso Wario, covering Kibra and Lang'ata.
• Northern Borough: Led by Serah Gichamba, covering Kasarani, Ruaraka, and Roysambu.

From Policy to Potholes

For the average Kenyan in Nairobi, this plan aims to translate policy into practical solutions. The governor's vision is that a resident in Kasarani or Kibra will no longer feel disconnected from the county government. Instead of navigating the labyrinthine corridors of City Hall, they will have a local service centre and a manager directly responsible for fixing their problems. "This system brings government closer to the people," Sakaja has previously stated, emphasizing that the needs of different neighbourhoods are not the same.

However, the initiative is not without its challenges. Analysts and residents' associations have raised concerns about whether the plan will simply create another layer of bureaucracy or devolve corruption. The success of this model hinges on whether the new managers are empowered to make decisions and are held strictly accountable for their budgets and performance.

The true test for these new managers will be felt on the streets, in the markets, and in the estates of Nairobi. As Governor Sakaja made clear, their mandate is simple: deliver a city that works for everyone.