Governor Johnson Sakaja has walked a political tightrope at State House today, signing a controversial deal with President Ruto that critics fear is a stealth return of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).

The ghost of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) hovered palpably over the manicured lawns of State House this afternoon. In a ceremony heavy with symbolism, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and President William Ruto affixed their signatures to a "Cooperation Agreement," a document that will fundamentally alter how the capital city is run.

For weeks, speculation has swirled. Is the Governor ceding power? Is the National Government staging a hostile takeover of the city’s lucrative and critical functions?Today, Sakaja sought to dispel those fears, framing the deal as a "partnership" rather than a surrender. But for many observers, the distinction is semantic.

30 Pieces of Silver?

The lead-up to this signing has been acrimonious. A lobby group had issued a 21-day ultimatum demanding transparency, while political opponents have invoked the biblical "30 pieces of silver," accusing the Governor of selling out the city’s autonomy for political survival. The memory of the Mike Sonko era—where a shambolic transfer of power led to the militarized NMS regime—is fresh in the minds of Nairobians.

However, the reality on the ground drove this deal. Nairobi is groaning. Mountains of uncollected garbage, dry taps, and gridlocked roads have become the hallmarks of the current administration. The County Government, overwhelmed by pending bills and inefficiency, has arguably failed to deliver the "City of Order" promised in 2022.

The Anatomy of the Deal

While the full text of the agreement remains closely guarded, insiders point to specific areas of "collaboration" that mirror the transferred functions of 2020:

• Solid Waste Management: The National Government will likely deploy the National Youth Service (NYS) and other assets to tackle the garbage crisis that has embarrassed City Hall.
• Water and Sanitation: With the Northern Collector Tunnel coming online, the distribution network requires a capital injection that only the Treasury can provide.
• Infrastructure: Major road repairs will now see direct intervention from the Ministry of Roads, bypassing the often-clogged county procurement pipelines.

A Political Masterstroke or Suicide?

For President Ruto, this is a pragmatic move. He cannot afford a dysfunctional capital city three years before a general election. By stepping in to "assist," he takes credit for the cleanup while insulating himself from the direct blame of county management.

For Sakaja, the gamble is existential. If the partnership delivers clean streets and flowing water, he will be vindicated as the leader who put results over ego. If it morphs into a NMS 2.0, where unelected officials run City Hall by fiat, he risks becoming a ceremonial governor—a king without a kingdom.

“I honour the mandate given to me by the people,” Sakaja insisted last week. But as the ink dries at State House, the people of Nairobi are watching. They don't care about jurisdiction; they care about garbage. The Governor has bought himself help, but the cost may be his political soul.