President Ruto: My four-pillar agenda to transform Nairobi

According to President Ruto, Nairobi will be the genesis of national transformation and the city should set the standards for other counties on the levels of development.

Speaking during a church survive in Embakasi, Nairobi, President Ruto noted that he has lobbied Governor Johnson Sakaja and all county leaders to realise his ambitious plan.

"If we are going to move Kenya to a first world nation, Nairobi is going to lead and that is why we will do anything to change the city of Nairobi," he noted.

"I want to assure the resident and leaders that as the leader of this nation I will go out of my way to support the county government of Nairobi."

His first agenda, he intimated, is to make Nairobi a motorable city, to ease movement of pedestrians and ease road congestion.

He noted that he has instructed all Members of County Assembly (MCAs) to identify one priority critical road that will be dedicated for the project.

"We must make Nairobi motorable so that we open up the county. I am going to provide resources for the development of those roads," Ruto stated.

The Head-of-State further noted that cleaning the city ambition has already kicked off and a big move to clear dumpsites and collect garbage in neighborhoods will soon be actualized.

He expressed frustration over the continuous dumping in streets and the poor waste management that has chained the capital in filth.

"Nairobi cannot be the city in the garbage. We have agreed with the Governor that I will add more resources from the national government," he said.

To clear the dump landfill in Dandora, Kenya's largest dumpsite, a treatment plan will be built on a designated land in Ruai area for efficient waste management.

"We will do is slowly so that we create fertilizer, energy and many other things. We are planning to have the treatment plant ready by next year so that we begin collecting garbage on April 1," Ruto added.

President Ruto's third pillar, he said, is anchored on streamlining the water supply crisis, that have long dogged many neighbourhoods.

He noted that the proposed Maragua IV Dam, under his 50 mega dam construction plan, will significantly boost water supply for residents in Nairobi. 

"We have done the northern collection tunnel you now have an extra million litres. The Marua 4 will bring water into the city. It is going to be one of the priority dams we will work on this year," he said.

The project is currently in the planning and financing phase, with a estimated cost of up to Ksh.45 billion. 

President Ruto’s administration is aiming to construct 50 mega dams, 200 medium dams, and thousands of smaller dams to enhance water security and irrigation, with a total estimated investment of Ksh.1.5 trillion. 

On his last pillar, President Ruto noted that his administration will not bow on the move to light the city.

He however cautioned those vandalising the installed infrastructure, vowing lawful action agaisnt them.

"If Nairobi is in the dark crime rates increase. There are people who vandalize the lights once they are installed," he noted.

He further asserted that his move is not to advance his political capital ahead of the 2027 General Election, noting that his development agenda is aimed to transform the nation for posterity.

President Ruto plans to effect a Ksh.5 trillion development project using two critical funds within 10 years.

The projects will be funded by the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) and the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), two key long-term transformation wagons shepherded by President Ruto.

NIF will serve as the key engine for aligning the administration’s financial resources with national development priorities.

The government will source private sector capital to finance priority investments, with a key focus on reducing its reliance on borrowing and taxation.

Meanwhile, the SWF establishes a framework for the prudent management and investment of revenues from mineral and petroleum resources, dividends from public investments and a portion of privatisation proceeds through a dedicated national fund.