Ruto Fires Back: Nairobi Isn’t Under National Government Control!

President William Ruto has strongly rejected claims suggesting that Nairobi County has been handed over to the national government.

Addressing the matter in Nairobi on Monday, the President insisted that the recently signed agreement with the county administration should not be misconstrued as a loss of autonomy.

According to Ruto, the agreement is strictly a cooperation framework designed to fast track development projects in the capital.

This is not about control, it is about collaboration,” the President emphasized. “Our goal is to ensure that Nairobi residents benefit from faster service delivery, improved infrastructure, and enhanced economic opportunities.”

The cooperation arrangement, which was signed last week between the national government and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, outlines joint initiatives in areas such as transport, housing, and security.

While critics have interpreted the memorandum as central government overreach, officials insist it is a temporary mechanism aimed at addressing pressing challenges in the city.

Ruto further highlighted that the framework allows both governments to leverage resources and expertise, rather than duplicating efforts or creating bureaucratic delays.

By working together, we can achieve more in shorter periods, ensuring Nairobi remains a model city for the rest of the country,” he said.

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Despite the clarification, opposition figures have continued to raise concerns over potential encroachment on county autonomy.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna described the arrangement as a bypass of county oversight, arguing that it could undermine the role of locally elected leaders.

Sifuna, however, acknowledged the potential benefits of national support in critical sectors.

Governor Sakaja, for his part, assured Nairobi residents that the county’s authority remains intact.

He described the agreement as a strategic partnership that will streamline service delivery, improve urban planning and facilitate key infrastructure projects.

“We remain the custodians of Nairobi County, and this framework simply allows us to work more efficiently with the national government,” Sakaja noted.

As debates continue, analysts believe that the success of the framework will largely depend on transparency, clear communication, and adherence to constitutional principles.

Both the national and county governments have pledged to hold regular joint reviews to monitor progress and ensure that citizens’ interests are prioritized.

Ultimately, President Ruto’s office maintains that the cooperation framework is a pragmatic step toward accelerating development in Nairobi, while respecting the county’s governance structures.

As the city faces growing population pressures and infrastructural demands, collaboration, officials argue, is the most viable path forward.