Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has addressed claims that he handed over Nairobi County functions to President William Ruto’s administration.
In a statement dated Tuesday, February 10, the governor denied ceding any county roles to the national government.
He was responding to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who had argued that constitutionally, there must be a formal deed of transfer of functions approved by the County Assembly.
“Constitutionally, there has to be a deed of transfer of functions. It has to be approved by the County Assembly. I have seen neither,” Sifuna stated.
The senator was reacting to a news report aired on Tuesday night, February 9, by a local media house claiming that Sakaja had ceded certain county roles.
The report alleged that President Ruto and Governor Sakaja had agreed to share responsibilities in Nairobi, with Sakaja ceding three functions to the national government.
“Fake news. No functions or roles ceded,” Sakaja responded.
The news report had stated that President William Ruto and Governor Johnson Sakaja had formally agreed on a “shared responsibility formula” for managing critical departments in Nairobi.
The move, reportedly discussed at State House, Nairobi, on February 9, according to the News report, would see the national government render services such as garbage collection and disposal, public works, and water supply, among others, to Nairobi residents.
On Sunday, February 8, President Ruto and Governor Sakaja announced plans to collaborate in restoring Nairobi’s status while attending a church service at AIC Pipeline, Nairobi.
The two leaders later met on Tuesday at the State House to formalise their execution plan.
Speaking at a rally after the church service in Pipeline, President Ruto told residents that his administration would support critical infrastructure development in the capital.
President Ruto has also, in the past, expressed interest in handling critical services within Nairobi. While addressing the 70th anniversary of AIC Ziwani at Starehe Boys’ Centre Grounds in Nairobi on October 12, 2025, the President stressed the need to restore Nairobi City.
“We have what it takes, we have the ideas, we have the knowledge, we have the plan, we have the people and we have the resources,” said President Ruto.
Sakaja has previously addressed concerns about handing over Nairobi functions to the national government. Speaking during a media interview on Wednesday morning, October 15, 2025, the governor dismissed reports that he was about to sign off aon ny county functions.
At the time, he stated that Nairobi County would continue to run its own affairs, adding that the previous transfer of functions under former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration was a bad experience for the county.
He clarified that he is not handing over Nairobi County functions to the national government but is instead seeking collaboration, particularly on cleanliness, which has been a persistent challenge for his administration.
