Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and the national government are set to sign a Cooperation Agreement at State House today at 3 PM, with Sakaja denying any surrender of key county functions while Senator Edwin Sifuna warns against unconstitutional transfers.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and the national government are scheduled to sign a Cooperation Agreement at State House, Nairobi, today at 3 PM, formalising a framework for joint work on key urban development and service delivery initiatives in the capital.
Governor Sakaja has firmly denied claims that the agreement involves the surrender or transfer of critical Nairobi County functions, including garbage collection and disposal, public works, road construction and maintenance, and water supply and sanitation. In a statement issued ahead of the signing ceremony, Sakaja emphasised that the agreement is collaborative and does not diminish the county’s constitutional authority.
“This is not about giving away Nairobi’s functions,” Sakaja said. “It is about working together with the national government to deliver faster and better services to Nairobi residents. Garbage collection remains under the county, roads maintenance continues as our responsibility, and water supply is still managed by Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company. No function is being transferred or surrendered. This is devolution in action—cooperation, not takeover.”
The governor added that the agreement focuses on areas of concurrent jurisdiction, shared financing for major infrastructure, coordinated planning and technical support where national expertise can complement county efforts. He said it aligns with Article 189 of the Constitution, which promotes cooperation between national and county governments, and will include joint oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability.
Senator Edwin Sifuna, however, cautioned against any arrangement that could undermine devolution. Speaking to journalists outside Parliament on February 18, 2026, Sifuna said the Senate would scrutinise the agreement closely. “We support genuine cooperation that benefits Nairobi residents,” Sifuna said. “But we will not allow any unconstitutional transfer of functions from the county to the national government. The Fourth Schedule clearly assigns garbage, roads, public works and water to the county. Any attempt to claw back these powers through the back door will be challenged.”
Sifuna called on the governor to publish the full draft agreement before signing. “Transparency is essential,” he said. “Nairobians deserve to know exactly what is being agreed. If there is no hidden transfer of functions, there should be no problem making the document public. We will be watching to ensure devolution is respected.”
The Cooperation Agreement is expected to cover joint initiatives in transport, housing, drainage improvement, waste management modernisation and security coordination. It follows months of negotiations between State House, the Ministry of Interior and the Nairobi County Government aimed at addressing long-standing service delivery gaps in the capital.
National Government Administrative Authority (NGAAF) Coordinator in Nairobi, who has been involved in the talks, said the agreement will include performance benchmarks and joint monitoring committees. “This is about results for the people of Nairobi,” the coordinator said. “Both governments recognise that some challenges—like traffic congestion, flooding and informal settlements—require combined effort and resources. The agreement ensures shared responsibility without eroding county powers.”
Public reaction has been mixed. Some Nairobi residents welcomed the prospect of improved services through national support, while others expressed suspicion. A commuter in Eastlands said: “If it means better roads and cleaner streets, I am fine with it. But if the county loses control, we will suffer more bureaucracy.”
The signing ceremony at State House is expected to be attended by President William Ruto, Governor Sakaja, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other leaders. A joint communiqué is anticipated after the event, outlining the agreement’s key provisions and implementation roadmap.
The agreement comes at a time when Nairobi faces mounting pressure on service delivery due to rapid population growth, urban sprawl and infrastructure deficits. Both governments have stressed that cooperation is essential to meet these challenges while respecting constitutional boundaries.
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