Written By Faith Mwende
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has ruled out any transfer of county responsibilities to the national government, stating that his administration will continue to run city affairs independently.
Speaking during an interview with NTV, Sakaja addressed growing speculation following President William Ruto’s announcement of a planned clean-up partnership with the county. While welcoming collaboration, Sakaja made it clear that the county remains in charge.
“Absolutely not! There are no functions that are going to be transferred,” he said, stressing that Nairobi will not relive the experience of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) era.
Recalling that period, Sakaja criticized the financial and operational legacy left behind, including over Ksh 16 billion in unpaid bills and incomplete projects. He said while NMS had made some progress, key sectors such as health and planning were left in limbo.
Instead of handing over functions, Sakaja said the county is engaging national agencies only where necessary, particularly for projects like converting waste into energy, which require national-level approvals.
“To sort out the city’s cleanliness, there are things that need collaboration with the national government,” he said, citing the need to work with regulators such as EPRA and the Ministry of Energy.
Sakaja also pointed to long-standing issues in Nairobi’s waste management, including a shortage of workers and outdated equipment. The county has recruited 4,000 youth to help address the problem, but funding delays and resource gaps remain a challenge.
“Nairobi is the seat of the national government and a diplomatic hub. There must be collaboration within the law, but not a takeover of functions,” he said.
