Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has refuted claims that Nairobi County will cede functions to the national government, specifically ruling out the return of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).

• Sakaja stated the NMS "experiment left us with a Ksh16 billion hole in pending bills," and emphasized that the county's constitutional powers would remain under its control.
• The Governor clarified that his county is open to collaborative efforts with the national government for infrastructure development, rather than an outright power shift.
• Key collaborations will involve national agencies like KURA and KeRRA for road and school infrastructure and a joint waste management facility in Ruai to convert refuse into fertilizer and energy.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and President William Ruto have reached a political agreement for the national government to manage key services in Nairobi, including garbage collection and water supply, despite fears of a return to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) model. The deal follows a period of political tension and aims to restore service delivery in the capital city.

• The agreement was reportedly negotiated at State House, Nairobi, aiming to formalize shared responsibility for urban management.
• Governor Sakaja assured that the county government retains full responsibility for Nairobi's management, citing the Urban Areas and Cities Act, No. 13 of 2011, as the legal framework for co-management without re-establishing the NMS.
• The national government will oversee essential services such as waste management, road infrastructure, affordable housing, and water distribution, a structure similar to the previous NMS, which took over key county functions under President Uhuru Kenyatta's tenure from 2020 to 2022.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has vehemently denied claims of transferring key county functions to the national government, dismissing a Citizen TV report as "fake news." This denial comes amidst allegations that functions like garbage collection and road construction were ceded to President William Ruto's administration.

• Governor Sakaja stated, "Fake news. No functions or roles have been ceded."
• Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna questioned the legality of such a transfer, citing the constitutional requirement for approval by the Nairobi County Assembly.
• President William Ruto and Governor Sakaja had previously agreed to collaborate on elevating Nairobi's infrastructure, including a plan to transfer the Dandora dumpsite to Ruai for a new waste management facility.

City Hall Way in Nairobi has been partially closed between the Parliament and Supreme Court roundabouts for Governor Johnson Sakaja's State of the County Address. This event marks the first major public gathering since a new agreement between the county and national governments regarding Nairobi's management.

• The partial closure on City Hall Way is to accommodate a Nairobi County Government parade and the annual address.
• The closure coincides with the recent agreement between Governor Sakaja and President William Ruto for shared responsibility in managing Nairobi's essential services, without reviving the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) model.
• Under the new arrangement, the national government will oversee critical departments like garbage collection, road construction, water supply, and affordable housing, while the county government retains oversight of other administrative functions.