Devolution Under Threat? Sifuna Takes Aim at Ruto and Sakaja’s City Hall Deal

The corridors of Nairobi politics are once again humming with speculation following a sharp intervention that has reignited debate over the future of the capital’s governance.

As alliances shift and political calculations deepen, a newly signed deal at the heart of City Hall has become the subject of intense scrutiny, drawing reactions from across the political divide.

At the centre of the unfolding storm is Edwin Sifuna, who has publicly demanded that a cooperation agreement signed on February 17 between William Ruto and Johnson Sakaja be shelved.

The Nairobi Senator argues that the agreement threatens to blur constitutional boundaries and undermine the autonomy of county governments.

The cooperation pact, which outlines collaboration between the national government and Nairobi County, was presented as a framework to enhance service delivery, streamline infrastructure development and improve efficiency in managing the capital.

However, Sifuna insists that beneath the surface lies a troubling attempt to centralize power and bypass established governance structures.

Speaking shortly after details of the agreement emerged, Sifuna warned that such arrangements, if left unchecked, could set a dangerous precedent.

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He questioned why the national government would seek to entrench itself deeper into county affairs when the Constitution clearly defines the roles of both levels of government.

According to the senator, cooperation should not translate into control.

Supporters of the agreement, particularly within City Hall, have defended it as a pragmatic response to Nairobi’s long standing challenges, including congestion, crumbling infrastructure and overstretched services.

Governor Sakaja’s allies argue that collaboration with the national government is essential to unlock funding and fast track stalled projects that directly affect residents.

But Sifuna remains unconvinced. He contends that Nairobi’s problems stem not from a lack of national involvement, but from poor accountability and political interference.

In his view, empowering county institutions and respecting devolution would yield better results than what he describes as handshake style governance deals.

The senator’s remarks have also injected a political dimension into the debate, with observers interpreting his stance as part of broader tensions between sections of the opposition and the Kenya Kwanza administration.

As reactions continue to pour in, the fate of the cooperation agreement remains uncertain.

Whether it is revised, shelved, or fully implemented may depend on how both levels of government respond to mounting pressure and constitutional concerns.

For now, Sifuna’s call has ensured that the deal will not proceed quietly.