Governor Johnson Sakaja has defended Nairobi City County’s cooperation with the national government, calling it a strategic, specialized cooperation meant to enhance service delivery to the city residents. 

Appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations earlier today to address the Senators’ concerns regarding the agreement, Governor Sakaja framed the partnership as a pragmatic solution to the city’s unique status as a diplomatic hub and the seat of national power. 

He highlighted the severe financial constraints facing the city, noting that the combined Kshs 40 billion that the Senate sends to counties as shareable revenue and own-source revenue is hardly adequate for a capital city. 

Drawing a stark comparison to other global cities, the county boss remarked that while Paris operates with a budget of Kshs1.4 trillion for 2 million people, Nairobi must serve a daytime population of 7 million with far less, stating, “Nairobi City carries 60% of the country's GDP and therefore requires additional resourcing and coordination to reach its potential.” 

Following the Senators’ push as to why he agreed to enter into an agreement with the national government, just like Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko did with the Nairobi Metropolitan Services, Governor Sakaja absolved his government from any wrongdoing, explicitly stating that the agreement is not a transfer of functions. 

Unlike previous models that created separate entities like the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), Sakaja clarified that no new institution is being formed. 

Instead, the framework allows the National Government to provide an injection to build more classrooms and fund massive infrastructure projects, such as a Kshs50 billion sanitation project along the Nairobi River. 

He noted that his school feeding program has already increased enrollment by 40% and that further resources would allow him to reach children in informal settlements. 

Governor Sakaja also detailed a Kshs6 billion end-to-end waste management solution, explaining that the county cannot afford the annual Kshs6 billion cost alone and requires a Kshs2 billion contribution from the national government to secure equipment like 90 tippers and 320 tricycles.

Despite the Governor's enthusiasm, the Members of the Devolution Committee raised critical questions regarding constitutional adherence and oversight. Senators expressed concerns that the agreement’s implementation committee, heavily weighted with National Government Principal Secretaries, might overlook the role of county officers. 

 “Governor, you need to come out clearly on where the county assembly is left when it comes to this kind of cooperation,” Wajir Senator Mohamed Abbas, the Chairperson of the Committee, submitted. 

There were also calls to ensure that public participation was not merely cosmetic and that the agreement respects the basic tenets of the Constitution. 

While the committee members agreed that Nairobi requires more resources, they emphasized the need for a proper legal instrument to protect the county’s autonomy. 

Governor Sakaja acknowledged these fears, attributing them to the "post-traumatic stress disorder" left by the NMS, which he claimed demoralized staff and left behind significant pending bills.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, while noting that he is not opposed to Nairobi City County receiving more money, offered a pointed critique, noting that this agreement provides an opportunity for those who promise to take the country to Singapore to first demonstrate what they can do with a single city. 

“We are not against more money going to the counties, but that must be done in a structured manner. This is actually an opportunity for those who are saying they will take us to Singapore to show us what they can do with one city before they take the whole country to Singapore,” Senator Sifuna submitted. 

He advised that for the agreement to work, it must preserve the county’s identity, protect the County Assembly's oversight power, maintain budget integrity through proper appropriations, and ensure genuine public participation. 

Governor Sakaja expressed confidence that this collaboration would soon result in a huge difference in the city's cleanliness, lighting, and road networks, stating he is ready to stake his career on the success of this implementation.