Sakaja Rules Out Return of NMS in State of the Nation Address
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has firmly dismissed claims that City Hall is considering reverting key county functions to the national government or reinstating a structure similar to the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
Speaking during his State of the County Address on Wednesday, February 11, Sakaja addressed growing speculation following his recent meeting with President William Ruto. Reports had suggested that Nairobi County was set to cede critical departments such as garbage collection, public works and water supply to the national government under a new shared-responsibility arrangement.
“The NMS experiment left us with a Ksh16 billion hole in pending bills, low morale and destruction of devolution,” Sakaja stated during the address.
He further emphasised that the constitutional framework establishing county governments remains intact and binding.
“The functions bestowed upon the county government of Nairobi in the constitution will remain county functions; we shall not transfer any functions,” he declared.
The NMS was established in 2020 after former Governor Mike Sonko transferred several key functions to the national government. While the arrangement was credited by some with improving service delivery in certain sectors, critics argued it undermined devolution and weakened county autonomy. The agency was later dissolved, with functions reverting fully to the county government.
Sakaja’s remarks came barely a day after reports circulated that he and President Ruto had agreed on a collaborative formula to manage Nairobi’s most pressing service delivery challenges. According to those reports, the national government would assume oversight of specific operational areas to streamline service provision in the capital.
Addressing the matter, Sakaja clarified that while Nairobi remains open to intergovernmental collaboration, such cooperation would strictly adhere to existing legal frameworks and would not amount to surrendering county powers.
“We are pursuing procedures using the Urban Areas and Cities Act to enhance support in infrastructure, but the city will continue to be governed as a county government under the law,” he said.
The governor outlined several areas where cooperation with national agencies is expected to accelerate development. These include the construction of additional classrooms to address congestion in public schools, expansion and resurfacing of roads, and improvements to drainage systems to mitigate flooding.
National agencies such as the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) are expected to play a supportive role in infrastructure upgrades within the capital.
A major highlight of the renewed partnership is a joint initiative targeting waste management, water access and road rehabilitation. Among the flagship projects is the proposed modern waste-management facility in Ruai, designed to convert refuse into fertiliser and energy once operational.
Earlier, on February 8, President Ruto affirmed his commitment to working closely with the county administration to transform the city’s infrastructure and service delivery standards.
“I will come here with my work on affordable housing, cleaning, and markets, and I know the people of Nairobi will decide from there,” the President said during a public engagement in the city.
Political analysts observe that the renewed cooperation reflects an attempt to balance constitutional devolution with pragmatic collaboration between the two levels of government.
As debate continues over the scope of national involvement in county affairs, Sakaja’s address appears aimed at reassuring residents that Nairobi’s governance structure remains intact while signalling openness to structured support for development projects.
ALSO READ: ODM Set to Exit Azimio, Oburu Odinga Says as He Hits Out at Uhuru
Sakaja Rules Out Return of NMS in State of the Nation Address
