President Ruto: Nairobi needs disciplined leadership, order and results

President William Ruto has called for disciplined leadership and decisive action to fix Nairobi’s long-standing governance failures, warning that the capital can no longer afford mismanagement and disorder.

Speaking during a special address to the Nairobi County Assembly on Thursday, Ruto said the city’s challenges require urgent execution rather than rhetoric.

“Nairobi needs disciplined leadership. Nairobi needs order. Nairobi needs execution. Nairobi needs results,” he said, setting the tone for what he described as a new era of accountability in the capital.

The President underscored Nairobi’s central role in the country’s fortunes, noting that the city contributes 27.5 per cent of Kenya’s economy, generating over Ksh.4.1 trillion annually, and serves as the face of the nation globally.

“When Nairobi works, Kenya works. When Nairobi fails, Kenya pays the price,” he said.

Ruto, the first Head of State to address the county assembly since the advent of devolution under the Constitution of Kenya, painted a stark picture of a city weighed down by years of poor planning, weak leadership and systemic neglect.

He cited persistent flooding, uncollected garbage, traffic congestion, overstretched sewer systems and unplanned settlements as evidence of a capital that has failed to match its potential.

“For too long, Nairobi has been a city of immense promise trapped by chronic dysfunction,” he said, attributing the situation to leaders who chose “comfort over courage” and tolerated mediocrity.

Despite hosting key international institutions, including the United Nations headquarters in the Global South, Ruto said Nairobi has often fallen short of expected global standards.

He maintained that the newly signed cooperation agreement between the national government and the Governor Johnson Sakaja-led Nairobi County government on February 17, 2026, marks a turning point in restoring order and efficiency.

“This is not a ceremonial document. It is not public relations. It is not politics for headlines,” he said.

The President emphasized that the focus going forward will be on practical delivery and measurable outcomes, insisting that Nairobi’s importance to Kenya’s economic growth and international standing demands a more structured and results-driven approach.

“Nairobi is not merely a city. It is a national asset,” he said.