Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino has pledged to abolish the current cooperation agreement between the national government and Nairobi County if elected governor in the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during an interview with a local radio station on Monday, May 4, 2026, Owino termed the deal illegal and procedurally flawed.

He sharply criticised the arrangement involving President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, arguing that it did not follow the correct legal process.

Owino said the agreement should not stand because, in his view, it was concluded without proper public participation as required by law.

“That cooperation agreement is illegal because it did not follow the required procedure. You need to do public participation first; you don’t sign and do public participation later,” he said.

He added that the agreement should be annulled entirely if it is found to have bypassed constitutional requirements.

“First of all, it has to go. That cooperation agreement has to go,” he said.

Criticism of county leadership

The legislator also questioned the rationale behind the agreement, suggesting that it undermines devolution and reflects poor leadership at the county level.

He argued that if a county government seeks national government intervention, it may signal governance weaknesses that should instead be addressed internally.

“If Governor Sakaja says that I can’t work, please come and help me, and invites the national government, he is simply saying that he is incompetent,” Owino said.

Owino, who has declared interest in the Nairobi gubernatorial race, said his administration would prioritise strengthening county autonomy and ensuring adherence to legal frameworks in governance agreements.

Mudavadi defends Ruto-Sakaja deal

However, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has defended the cooperation agreement between Ruto and Sakaja amid mounting legal and governance concerns.

Appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on Monday, March 30, 2026, Mudavadi told senators the framework is a structured partnership designed to resolve Nairobi’s long-standing infrastructure and service delivery challenges, insisting it does not undermine devolution.

“This agreement represents a deliberate and structured effort by both levels of government to strengthen collaboration in the delivery of critical services and infrastructure within the Capital City,” he said.

Sakaja’s defence line

Earlier, Sakaja had attributed the city’s persistent infrastructure problems, particularly chronic flooding, to years of inadequate funding amid uproar from the citizens and a section of leaders.

Breaking his silence on Sunday evening, March 8, 2026, nearly 48 hours after floods caused widespread disruption across Nairobi, Sakaja said the county requires billions of shillings to permanently fix the capital’s drainage system and curb the recurring flood menace.

According to Sakaja, Nairobi requires at least Ksh60 billion annually to properly address infrastructure needs, maintain public services, and respond to emergencies such as the ongoing floods.

“I am not overwhelmed, I am under-resourced. Nairobi needs at least Ksh60 billion every year to address the challenges and development needs in a better way,” he said in an interview on a local TV station.