Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Monday chaired the first meeting to operationalise a cooperation framework between Nairobi City County and the national government, days after the two levels of government signed an agreement aimed at strengthening coordination and unlocking more resources for the capital.
Speaking after the inaugural session, Sakaja said the arrangement is provided for under the Urban Areas and Cities Act but has never been implemented since the start of devolution.
The governor said the capital city plays a unique role that requires close coordination between the county and national government.
“Nairobi being a devolved unit, it is also the capital city, the seat of the national government,” Sakaja said.
“We host the diplomatic community and therefore, infrastructure to support the seat of the capital and the seat of the national government needs that coordination.”
Sakaja said the capital cannot operate like other counties that depend only on allocations from the equitable share formula.
“Nairobi cannot be financed and run just like any other county, or be left to the budget of the equitable share formula that is given to every other county.”
He described the agreement as a milestone that will help improve service delivery in the capital and allow the city to access more funding through the national budget alongside its own county allocation.
“So for me it's a milestone that we're able now to have this coordination together. The agreement was taken through public participation on February 26 at City Hall, and on the 27 in the 17 subcounties. The members of the public overwhelmingly support this because it's about service delivery, and the report was submitted on the 1st, I think the 1st or 2nd of March at the county assembly,” Sakaja said.
Under the arrangement, Sakaja said the county will seek additional resources through appropriations from the national government while maintaining its existing responsibilities.
“We are not going to create other institutions; that was the agreement, let us use the structures that we already have within the national government and also within the county government.”
He said the meeting also focused on setting up a joint secretariat and reviewing proposals made by the county assembly regarding the framework.
“There were minor amendments that they proposed that we shall discuss at the steering committee,” he said.
Sakaja explained that the cooperation framework has two levels of leadership to guide its implementation.
“We have a steering committee that is chaired by the Prime Cabinet Secretary and has cabinet secretaries and representation from Nairobi County, and we have this implementation committee.”
According to the governor, the implementation committee will drive the actual work of the partnership.
“We want to be able to move quickly. We are to meet once a month according to this provision, but I think in the beginning, for the first month, we shall meet possibly weekly, I guess for the first month and fortnightly, and we shall be flexible enough to have it virtual so that we can also keep moving. I appreciate that all of you are very busy Kenyans in your different dockets, but Nairobi is lucky that once a week we can have the focus of the national government for our capital city,” Sakaja said.
He said the idea of entering into such an arrangement dates back to the time he served as the city senator, adding that it should have been implemented many years ago.
The inaugural meeting, he explained, was meant to set the tone for how the two levels of government will work together and establish procedures for future engagements.
“The inaugural meeting is meant to do housekeeping and establish the protocols that will be followed in the upcoming meeting.”
Sakaja said the interim secretary had already prepared an agenda to guide the formation of committees and develop a work plan.
He noted that the framework will focus on key areas such as roads, infrastructure, housing and service delivery in the capital.
The governor added that the meeting was also taking place as the city faces flooding that has caused deaths and affected many residents.
He said the steering committee will guide overall policy and direction and is expected to meet every three months, although it can convene more frequently when necessary.
Sakaja added that the implementation structure includes principal secretaries who serve as accounting officers alongside officials from the county government.
Among those present during the meeting were Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri, officials from the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, officials from the Devolution Ministry, the National Treasury, the Nairobi Rivers Commission, county executive members, Environment PS Festus Ng’eno, National Environment Management Authority Director General Mamo Mamo among other officials.
The meeting followed the signing of the cooperation agreement on February 17 between Nairobi City County and the national government, a move leaders said could unlock billions of shillings for urban renewal in the capital.
The pact, anchored on Section 6 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, created a formal framework for collaboration between the two levels of government.
The agreement was signed at State House by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on behalf of the national government and Sakaja on behalf of the county government.
President William Ruto, who witnessed the signing, moved to calm fears that the deal could lead to the national government taking over city functions.
“What we are formalising today is not a transfer of functions. Let me repeat, there is no transfer of functions taking place. For the avoidance of doubt, I have no interest in running the city; my hands are already full,” he said.
The President added that Sakaja and his administration will continue to run the city.