Ruto, Sakaja agree on shared responsibility deal for Nairobi services

President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja have formally agreed on a shared responsibility formula for managing critical departments in Nairobi.

The move, which was hatched at State House, Nairobi, will see the national government take charge of garbage collection and disposal, public works and water supply, among other services, for Nairobi residents.

The announcement came two days after the pair made the announcement that they would jointly collaborate to restore the glory of the city under the sun while attending a church service at AIC Pipeline, Nairobi.

Under the new joint management structure, the national government will oversee several critical services, including garbage collection and disposal, public works—covering affordable housing, road construction and maintenance—as well as water collection and supply.

President Ruto, while addressing a rally after attending the church service in Pipeline, Nairobi, said his administration would provide critical infrastructure development in the capital.

“Si mimi nitakuja hapa na kazi yangu ya kusafisha city, ya affordable housing, ya kujenga barabara… si ni nyinyi mtaamua? Ama aje?” Ruto said on Sunday.

Sakaja at the time said, “Watu wa Nairobi tunakutambua… mdosi anaweza ama hawezi? Umeweka vijana kwa climate change na mjengo.”

Similarly, the head of state, while gracing the 70-year celebration of AIC Ziwani at Starehe Boys’ Grounds in Nairobi, reiterated the need to restore Nairobi city.

In early 2020, then Nairobi governor Mike Sonko handed over key devolved functions, including health, transport, planning and public works, to the national government, which subsequently established the Nairobi Metropolitan Services headed by Major General Mohammed Badi.

At the cabinet meeting held earlier at State House Nairobi, ministers endorsed a Ksh.4.7 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year, up from Ksh.4.29 trillion in the current year.

The cabinet also authorised the release of Sh4.1 billion to scale up response interventions across regions affected by drought.