Ruto, Sakaja defend Nairobi cooperation deal, dismiss critics

Speaking on Wednesday during the Climate Works Nairobi River Regeneration Programme in Lucky Summer, the Head of State said the capital had not been “handed over” to the National Government but placed on a joint development path intended to accelerate infrastructure renewal and improve services to standards comparable with other major cities.

“No Nairobi has been handed over; I have a job to do. What we have done is cooperation so that we can build our city. Development will be overseen by the County Government the Governor working together with the MCAs. My role as President is to support them so that Nairobi continues to progress,” said Ruto.

He emphasized that the arrangement is collaborative, with the County Government retaining oversight while the National Government offers support, technical capacity and resources to fast-track development.

The President said the partnership would deliver wide-ranging urban upgrades, including major road construction works, expanded street lighting to enhance security, and new pedestrian bridges along the Nairobi River to improve safety and accessibility. 

He added that thousands of young people are already benefiting from jobs created through clean-up and regeneration activities linked to the restoration initiative, noting that for decades the waterway had been defined by pollution and neglect but would now be transformed through new sewer infrastructure and environmental rehabilitation.

He described the transformation of the capital as a national priority, saying the city represents Kenya’s image and economic heartbeat and must reflect the country’s ambitions. He urged political leaders to set aside differences and concentrate on delivering tangible improvements, stressing that there would be time for politics later but that the current moment demands work and results.

Governor Johnson Sakaja echoed the call for unity, saying the cooperation is designed to accelerate development projects and improve essential services for residents. 

Speaking earlier in Ngomongo, the county chief dismissed claims that he had ceded authority, maintaining that he remains firmly in charge of the county’s mandate while leveraging national support to deliver cleaner streets, better roads, and improved health and education facilities.

He argued that as the country’s capital, the city stands to benefit from additional investment and coordinated planning between the two levels of government.

"Nataka kuwauliza kwa sababu mmeona tumekuja na tumeamua kufanya kazi pamoja na National Govt, tushirikiane na rais? Tufanye kazi pamoja? Nairobi ipate chapa zaidi? Tuongeze barabara?masoko? We have come together between the National Govt and County Govt for the interest of the people of Nairobi,umoja ni nguvu utengano ni udhaifu," Sakaja posed.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi reinforced the message, warning that the capital cannot afford to lag behind other global cities undergoing rapid modernization. He said the shared agenda is to decisively address long-standing urban challenges and reposition the city as a competitive regional hub.

The Lucky Summer engagement forms part of a broader environmental and urban renewal campaign centred on restoring the river corridor, expanding sanitation systems, upgrading roads and lighting networks, and creating employment opportunities for thousands of young people—an integrated push leaders say will redefine the capital’s outlook and sustainability.