NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has officially launched a significant administrative overhaul, restructuring the capital into six boroughs, each managed by a newly appointed official. The move, confirmed on Thursday, November 27, 2025, is designed to decentralise county services, improve efficiency, and reduce the bureaucratic bottlenecks that have long plagued residents seeking services at City Hall.

“Our intention is to move City Hall and our services closer to Nairobians by ensuring that every corner of the city has a champion accountable for local service delivery,” Governor Sakaja stated during the announcement. He emphasised that the reform is “not just an administrative change; it is a shift in how we serve Nairobians,” aiming to make the county government more responsive and accessible.

This restructuring is the culmination of a process that included public participation in late 2023 and is empowered by the Urban Areas and Cities Act of 2011, which permits county governments to partition their jurisdictions for administrative purposes. The initiative aims to address chronic issues of slow response times, congestion at central offices, and inconsistent service delivery across the vast metropolis of over five million people.

The New Administrative Map

The six newly created boroughs consolidate all 17 of Nairobi's sub-counties, with each borough led by a manager tasked with coordinating all county functions within their territory. The structure is as follows:

• Central Borough: Covering Starehe, Mathare, and Kamukunji sub-counties. It will be managed by Charles Mabonga, with service centres at City Hall and Shauri Moyo.
• Eastern Borough: Comprising Embakasi North, Embakasi West, and Embakasi Central. This will be led by George Muga, operating from the Sub-County Administrator's office in Umoja I.
• Western Borough: Includes Westlands, Dagoretti North, and Dagoretti South. It is headed by Janet Kimeu, with a service centre located at City Park.
• South Eastern Borough: Covering Embakasi South, Embakasi East, and Makadara. This will be managed by John Saruni, based at the Huduma Centre in Makadara. Note: Some initial reports incorrectly named Susan Wanjiru Gichamba or John Saruni for the Northern Borough. However, multiple sources confirm Saruni for South Eastern.
• Southern Borough: Comprising Kibra and Lang'ata sub-counties. It will be headed by Dabasso Wario, with services offered at the Joseph Kang'ethe Social Hall.
• Northern Borough: Covering Kasarani, Ruaraka, and Roysambu. This will be led by Serah Gichamba, with a service centre at Gatharaini Grounds.

Implications for Service Delivery in Kenya's Capital

The borough model is intended to create a more direct line of accountability between residents and the county administration. By establishing clear points of contact at the local level, the government aims to empower communities and tailor development to area-specific needs. Each borough is expected to have its own distinct budget and development plan, allowing for more focused allocation of resources for services like waste collection, water supply, road maintenance, and local infrastructure.

This reform represents a significant shift from the highly centralised structure that has defined Nairobi's governance for decades. Since the devolution project began in earnest with the 2010 Constitution, which replaced the old City Council with a County Government in 2013, Nairobi has grappled with how to effectively manage its rapid growth. Past administrative arrangements have often been criticised for failing to keep pace with the city's expansion and complex challenges.

The move by the Sakaja administration parallels a recent, separate restructuring by the national government's Ministry of Interior, which divided Nairobi into three sub-regions (North, East, and West) under County Commissioners to coordinate national government functions and security. While the two structures are distinct, they both reflect a broader strategy of decentralisation to manage the capital's growing complexity.

The success of the borough system will depend on effective implementation, adequate funding, and clear mandates for the new managers. While the county has reportedly allocated around KSh 400 million for the initial setup, sustained political will and resident participation will be crucial for this ambitious overhaul to translate into tangible improvements for the citizens of Nairobi. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED on the specific powers and budgetary autonomy devolved to the new managers.