Nairobi Governor Sakaja Firmly Rejects Transfer of County Functions to National Government
Governor Johnson Sakaja has categorically ruled out any transfer of the county's constitutional functions to the national government, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to the mandate given by Nairobi residents.
Speaking during his State of the County Address at the Nairobi County Assembly on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Sakaja dismissed widespread speculation that his recent meeting with President William Ruto at State House indicated a handover of key responsibilities, such as garbage management, public works, and water supply.
"I honour the mandate the people of Nairobi gave me. They entrusted me with constitutional powers to transform the city. I will not betray that trust," Sakaja declared. He added firmly, "The functions bestowed upon us by the Constitution will remain county functions. We shall not transfer them."
The governor acknowledged Nairobi's unique status as both a county and the capital city, which makes collaboration with the national government inevitable and even encouraged. However, he stressed that the law clearly separates roles between the two levels of government. He explained that any joint efforts would follow proper legal procedures, including those under the Urban Areas and Cities Act, to support infrastructure and service delivery without compromising county authority.
Sakaja referenced the 2020 Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) arrangement as a cautionary example of what can go wrong when constitutional boundaries are blurred. "In the year 2020, Nairobi got into a misadventure that ended up being costly. The NMS experiment left us with a Sh16 billion hole in pending bills, low staff morale due to mistreatment and a defilement of devolution," he said.
The address came amid political tensions in the assembly, where some Members of the County Assembly had initially threatened to boycott the session over quorum concerns, though attendance improved as proceedings continued. It followed a closed-door meeting at State House on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, where President Ruto and other national officials received updates on key sectors from Sakaja and his cabinet. While State House has not released details of the discussions, President Ruto has recently described engagements between the two levels of government as collaborative efforts to address long-standing challenges in the capital.
Sakaja highlighted specific areas of planned cooperation, including processing the Maragwa 4 Dam project to supply 140 million litres of water daily and ensuring each of the 85 wards receives one kilometre of tarmac road through joint initiatives. On solid waste management, he announced plans for integrated waste transfer stations and estate-level clean-up programs to restore order in garbage collection.
The governor maintained a defiant tone after the address, stating, "Usione simba akanyeshewa mkadhani ni paka. Sasa ndio siasa imeanza," signaling that political dynamics are only beginning to intensify.
Minority Leader Anthony Kiragu supported the view of collaboration, noting that it does not imply failure by the county government and affirming readiness to provide assembly input if required. Minority Deputy Leader Waithera Chege emphasized that residents prioritize tangible services like clean roads, reliable garbage collection, and adequate water supply, adding that the assembly had previously alerted the President to stalled projects and was prepared to pursue impeachment if necessary.
Sakaja's stance reinforces his position as a defender of devolution while navigating the practical realities of governing Kenya's capital city through structured partnerships rather than any surrender of authority.