President William Ruto signed a cooperation agreement between the national government and Nairobi County under a new partnership framework. He emphasized that the pact does not transfer county functions but aims to enhance the capital city's performance in four key areas. Critics have questioned the transparency and constitutional adherence in the process.
On February 17, 2026, at State House in Nairobi, President William Ruto signed a Cooperation Agreement between the National Government and Nairobi County Government. He outlined four key areas of cooperation: water and sewerage, construction and rehabilitation of roads, bridges and drainage, housing and related infrastructure development, and solid waste management and Nairobi River regeneration.
Ruto stated, "What we are augmenting today is not a transfer of functions. For the avoidance of doubt, I have no interest in running the city of Nairobi; my hands are full. The governor and his team must run the city of Nairobi." He added, "But I have an obligation as the President of Kenya to assist the city of Nairobi. What is being enhanced is structured national government support where capital city performance affects the whole republic."
On street lighting, Ruto pledged Ksh3.7 billion for modernization and expansion. Nairobi has about 70,000 lighting points, but only 21,000 are fully operational. Under the agreement, they will complete 10,000 and install an additional 40,000.
Additionally, Ruto directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to prepare a framework for the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit within 60 days. He said, "We will make, and we must make Nairobi safe for citizens, visitors, investors, and businesses alike." This addresses security challenges, including phone thefts and business break-ins in the CBD.
Prior to the signing, Governor Johnson Sakaja dismissed reports as fake news, stating county functions would remain intact. However, Senator Edwin Sifuna expressed surprise and warned, "The Governor of Nairobi assured us he wasn’t transferring any functions to the National Government. I’m surprised to see a scheduled ‘signing ceremony’ at statehouse this afternoon." He emphasized the need for public involvement and that any unconstitutional clawback of devolved functions would face strong resistance.
The Katiba Institute wrote to the Acting County Secretary seeking full transparency within 21 days, citing Article 35 of the Constitution and the Access to Information Act. They stated, "We are seeking full transparency on the reported collaboration between Nairobi City County and the national government, including the scope, responsibilities, and legal basis of any arrangement."
The cooperation builds on past efforts, such as the Nairobi River regeneration program that employed over 45,000 youth. Crime reports show Nairobi accounted for 9.6 percent of national crimes in 2023, with a 13.92 percent reduction in mid-2025.
