No Cash, No Cooperation: Why Sifuna Says Nairobi Doesn’t Need the State

For months, tension has simmered quietly between City Hall and the national government, surfacing only in subtle budget standoffs and muted public exchanges.

But beneath the surface, frustrations have been mounting over stalled services, unpaid bills and blurred lines of responsibility.

As Nairobi residents grapple with deteriorating infrastructure and strained public services, a long running financial dispute is now taking center stage in the political arena.

Speaking during a public engagement in the capital, Edwin Sifuna, the Nairobi Senator, reignited debate over the financial relationship between the national government and Nairobi County, declaring that the State owes the county a staggering Sh100 billion in pending allocations.

According to Sifuna, settling this debt would fundamentally change how the two levels of government interact.

Sifuna argued that Nairobi’s persistent financial struggles are not a result of poor planning at the county level but stem largely from withheld or delayed funds that are constitutionally due.

He maintained that if the full amount owed were released, the county would be financially self-sufficient and capable of delivering services without seeking joint arrangements or cooperation frameworks with the national government.

This narrative that Nairobi must partner with the State to function is misleading,” Sifuna said. “If the money owed to the county was paid, there would be no justification for parallel structures or shared control over county functions.”

The remarks come amid ongoing cooperation initiatives between the national government and Nairobi County, particularly in sectors such as health, transport, and urban planning.

Proponents argue that such collaborations improve efficiency and accountability.

However, critics including Sifuna view them as a subtle erosion of devolution, warning that they undermine the authority of elected county governments.

Political analysts note that the Sh100 billion claim touches a nerve in Kenya’s broader devolution debate.

Nairobi, despite being the country’s economic hub, has often struggled with cash flow challenges, affecting service delivery, staff payments, and infrastructure projects.

The senator’s comments have already sparked renewed calls for transparency in intergovernmental transfers and clearer timelines for settling pending bills.

At the national level, officials have previously cited revenue constraints and verification processes as reasons for delayed disbursements.

However, Sifuna dismissed these explanations, insisting that constitutional obligations should not be optional or negotiable.

As the standoff continues, Nairobi residents remain caught in the middle paying taxes, demanding services and watching as political actors trade blame.

Whether the Sh100 billion claim will force a policy shift or deepen the rift between the two governments remains to be seen.

What is clear, however, is that the conversation around Nairobi’s financial autonomy is far from over.