Former Trade and Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has expressed concern over the looming takeover of key functions of the Nairobi County by the national government.

Taking to X on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Kuria linked the problems bedevilling the country’s capital city, such as poor lighting and the garbage menace, to former governments’ interferences.

The former Gatundu South Member of Parliament has reacted to President William Ruto’s Sunday, October 12, 2025, remarks, where the Head of State announced plans for the partnership between the national government, the Nairobi City County, and the private sector aimed at tackling the capital’s persistent waste management challenges.

Speaking on Sunday while attending a service to commemorate AIC Ziwani Church’s 70 years of faith and dedicated service, Ruto said the garbage menace will be dealt with accordingly.

“Nairobi cannot continue to be a city in filth. You see that we have already started cleaning the Nairobi River. And now all estates are in the final stages of signing an agreement with the private sector on how we are going to clean this city. It cannot continue the way it is,” President Ruto said.

However, Moses Kuria, who has developed an interest in running for the Nairobi City County governor’s seat in 2027, has identified that the present waste management crisis in Nairobi and other challenges cannot be fully resolved by the national government taking over.

”If the National Government takes over the 3 functions of lighting, roads and cleaning up Nairobi, that will be understandable but unfortunate. First, these are very basic functions. Their collapse speaks volumes.”

“Secondly, the Jubilee Government created NMS to take over functions from the Jubilee Governor. Now, a UDA administration will take over functions from a UDA governor. What does that say about political parties and the choices they make? We cannot continue giving patients Piriton where surgery is required,” Kuria argued.

Nairobi governorship

While declaring his Nairobi County gubernatorial ambitions on Monday, October 13, 2025, the former Gatundu South Member of Parliament added that he is inspired to run for the Nairobi City County top seat to clean the devolved unit choking on filth.

”Dear President William Ruto. Today you spoke to my heart. As Prime Minister Baba Raila Amolo Odinga has told me countless times, Nairobi cannot continue to be the city of filth, garbage, and incompetence. I have heard your cry. That is why I will offer myself to be the Governor of the great County of Nairobi in 2027. I will fix Nairobi,” Moses Kuria said.

Meanwhile, Kuria’s interest in the Nairobi governor seat comes at a moment when the incumbent, Johnson Sakaja, is risking impeachment after a fallout with the Nairobi City County Members of the County Assembly over reported incompetence.