Facing intense scrutiny and a barrage of tough questions from the Senate, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has mounted a vigorous defense of the monumental KSh 80 billion (approx. USD 615 million) cooperation agreement inked with President William Ruto's National Government.

The high-stakes deal, designed to aggressively overhaul the capital's collapsing infrastructure and regenerate the heavily polluted Nairobi River, has triggered immense political paranoia. Critics and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) fear the arrangement is a Trojan horse designed to strip City Hall of its constitutional mandate, eerily mirroring the defunct, military-led Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).

A Partnership, Not a Surrender

Appearing before a Senate committee, Governor Sakaja categorically rejected the narrative that he had capitulated his executive authority to State House. He insisted that the agreement is firmly anchored in law, specifically citing Section 6 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, which allows for special focus and co-management of the capital city.

'This is not a handover; it is cooperation,' Sakaja firmly stated. He articulated that Nairobi, as the economic lung and diplomatic hub of East Africa, inherently requires massive national investment that far exceeds the county’s independent revenue-generating capacity. The deal establishes a two-tier governance framework, featuring a powerful Steering Committee chaired by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, with Sakaja serving as vice-chair.

Addressing the NMS Ghost

The ghost of the NMS loomed large over the proceedings. The previous administration’s experiment with nationalizing city functions ended in 2022, leaving behind a trail of stalled projects and billions of shillings in un-auditable liabilities. MCAs are deeply concerned about their role in overseeing the new KSh 80 billion injection.

Sakaja moved to allay these fears, clarifying the financial architecture of the deal. He noted that funds originating from the national government will be strictly overseen by the National Assembly, while devolution matters remain squarely within the Senate’s purview.

• The KSh 80 billion package targets critical sectors: heavy road construction, expansive street lighting, and the highly publicized Climate Works Nairobi River Regeneration Programme.
• President Ruto has publicly backed the governor, emphasizing that the National Government is providing technical capacity, not staging an administrative coup.
• The partnership is expected to create thousands of jobs for Nairobi's youth through environmental clean-up and infrastructure initiatives.

The Pragmatism of Power

In the brutal arena of Kenyan politics, Sakaja’s pragmatism is being tested. By aligning closely with the ruling UDA administration, he secures the financial firepower necessary to deliver on his manifesto, but at the risk of alienating his independent political base.

As the city chokes under the weight of poor planning and rapid urbanization, the success or failure of this cooperation deal will define Sakaja’s legacy and test the true flexibility of Kenya's devolution architecture.

'We must focus on service delivery rather than petty politics; the residents of Nairobi demand cleaner streets and better hospitals, not administrative turf wars,' President Ruto declared, throwing his full political weight behind the embattled governor.