The handshake was firm, the smiles wide, but the political undercurrents were undeniable. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has signed a landmark Sh80 billion cooperation agreement with the National Government, a deal that President William Ruto promises will transform the capital’s infrastructure but which critics fear may signal a soft takeover of the city’s management.

The ceremony at State House was a carefully choreographed display of unity. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi put pen to paper for the National Government, while Sakaja signed for the county. The deal, anchored in Section 6 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, is ostensibly a financial lifeline. Sakaja has long argued that the capital’s current revenue streams are insufficient to maintain its complex infrastructure, and this partnership unlocks billions for urban renewal, waste management, and mobility projects.

Partnership or Auction?

The optics, however, have sparked intense debate. The image of a Governor ceding ground—even if framed as "cooperation"—evokes memories of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) era, where an unelected military general ran the city. President Ruto was quick to preempt this narrative. "Let me repeat, there is no transfer of functions taking place," the President asserted. "For the avoidance of doubt, I have no interest in running the city; my hands are already full."

Sakaja, too, was defensive, distinguishing this legal framework from the "misadventure" of the NMS which left billions in debt. "This is a cooperation that recognizes Nairobi as the nation's capital," he insisted. Yet, the involvement of the National Government in the day-to-day project implementation through a joint steering committee implies a significant shift in power dynamics.

• The Money: Sh80 billion is a game-changing sum, potentially solving Nairobi's chronic garbage and drainage crises if managed correctly.
• The Politics: By bringing the city closer to the central government, Ruto consolidates influence in a county that has often been an opposition stronghold.
• The Risk: If the projects fail or are mired in corruption, Sakaja risks being seen as the Governor who "auctioned" his mandate, leaving him politically vulnerable ahead of 2027.

A New Model of Governance?

If this hybrid model succeeds, it could set a precedent for how the National Government interacts with other strategic counties like Mombasa or Kisumu. It challenges the rigid separation of powers envisaged in devolution, suggesting that for "too-big-to-fail" cities, the center must hold the purse strings.

For the average Nairobian dodging potholes and uncollected trash, the legalities matter less than the results. Sakaja has rolled the dice on a high-stakes partnership. He has secured the funds, but the cost may be his autonomy.