Sakaja Clarifies Nairobi’s Collaboration With National Government, Denies Transfer of County Functions
Sakaja clarifies Nairobi collaboration with National Government: Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has dismissed claims that any county functions will be transferred to the National Government following President William Ruto’s recent remarks about improving Nairobi’s infrastructure and services.
Speaking during an interview with NTV on Wednesday morning, Sakaja clarified that the partnership would only involve limited collaboration in areas such as street lighting, garbage disposal, and road maintenance — not a takeover.
No Transfer of Nairobi County Functions
“There are no functions that are about to be transferred to the National Government. The last time that happened during the previous regime, it ended disastrously,” Sakaja stated.
He was referring to the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS), introduced under the previous administration, which he said left the county with more than Ksh16 billion in pending bills. While acknowledging that NMS completed some projects such as road paving and health facility upgrades, he described its approach as a “quick fix” that created long-term financial strain.
“You can imagine that in two years, NMS left us with pending bills worth Ksh16 billion,” he said.
Collaboration Focused on Waste-to-Energy and Recycling
Sakaja explained that the county’s new collaboration with the National Government will focus on sustainable projects, particularly in waste management.
He announced Nairobi County will retain control. This includes garbage collection and cleaning operations. The county will also handle acquiring new garbage trucks. The National Government will collaborate later. Collaboration involves waste disposal through a waste-to-energy initiative. This project is planned for the Dandora dumpsite.
“The ultimate solution is at the garbage disposal site where we are doing a waste-to-energy project, and that is where we need collaboration with the National Government,” Sakaja explained.
Clarifying the President’s Remarks
Sakaja emphasized that President Ruto’s comments about the National Government’s involvement in cleaning and lighting Nairobi were misinterpreted. He said the partnership aims to complement county efforts, not replace them.
“There’s a component of recycling organic waste, which makes up 60 percent of the city’s waste. The offtake of fertilizer from that process will involve the National Government,” he noted.
