Murkomen: Critics of Sakaja haven’t read the law
By Kenneth Mwenda, February 18, 2026Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has defended the cooperation agreement between the Nairobi County Government and the national government, describing criticism of the deal as absolutely erroneous. He spoke during a press briefing in Nakuru on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
“So this is a very great opportunity for us. We appreciate the working relationship between national government and county government,” Murkomen said. “I must admit that I am excited, as a former senator, to see the Urban Areas and Cities Act, the Intergovernmental Relations Act, and the Devolution Act being put into use to enhance the working relationship between national and county government.”
Murkomen dismissed claims that the deal represents a takeover of Nairobi County.
“For those who are faulting Governor Sakaja and the county government, they have not read the law. I speak here as someone who helped draft the Urban Areas and Cities Act and the Intergovernmental Relations Act even before I became a senator,” he said.
He explained that the legislation recognises Nairobi’s unique status as the capital city and provides for agreements between the county government and national government to govern it effectively.
“That is in black and white,” he said. “The agreement is bolstered by Article 189 of the Constitution, which provides for intergovernmental relations and ensures that the two levels of government can complement each other to build the city.”
Murkomen said the collaboration would particularly strengthen Nairobi’s security framework.
“Under this arrangement, pickpockets, criminals, gunmen, and drug peddlers will be dealt with more efficiently through a Nairobi Metropolitan framework,” he said.
Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit
The CS unveiled plans for the new Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit (NMPU), which he described as a model Kenya has never seen. The unit will first operate in Nairobi before being expanded to other cities.
Murkomen said the initiative is based on global policing models and research.
“What we will do in Nairobi will become the prototype that we will apply in the other four cities in the country and other urban areas,” he said.
The government plans to involve Nairobi’s business community in the security system. Officials will install new CCTV cameras in business centres and residential areas, ensuring private systems are linked directly to police networks. Murkomen added that the existing network will be upgraded from NC3 to NC4, with Artificial Intelligence used to detect crime patterns and target interventions scientifically.
President William Ruto defended the agreement during the signing at State House on February 17, emphasising that the deal does not involve transferring functions. “Let me repeat, there is no transfer of functions happening. I have no interest in running the city of Nairobi. The governor and his team must run the city of Nairobi,” he said.
Governor Johnson Sakaja said the agreement relies on Section 6 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act. He argued that Nairobi’s unique role as a regional business hub and home to diplomatic missions and the United Nations headquarters requires additional support.
“This is not a transfer but a collaboration which is encouraged,” Sakaja said. The agreement establishes a steering committee chaired by the Prime Cabinet Secretary, with Sakaja as deputy chair, and an implementation committee led by the governor to manage daily operations.
Critics question Nairobi deal
Despite these assurances, the deal has drawn sharp criticism from some politicians. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino called it the biggest assault on devolution and accused the national government of a hostile takeover.
“The process was illegally done, and public participation is supposed to be done after the signing of this agreement. This is completely unconstitutional and unlawful,” he said.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna also questioned the legality of the pact, saying it revives problems from the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services model. He criticised the continued involvement of national agencies such as KURA and KeRRA in county roads, which he said undermines devolution.
Sifuna presented alternatives, including direct settlement of national government debts to the county, full transfer of devolved functions, legal funding through conditional grants, and strict adherence to equitable share releases. He warned that arrangements like the new agreement make oversight by the County Assembly, Senate, and Auditor-General nearly impossible.
Murkomen maintained that the cooperation deal is in line with the law and offers an opportunity to improve Nairobi’s governance and services. He urged critics to read the relevant legislation before casting judgement. “Those faulting the county government are making arguments without understanding the law,” he said.
As the NMPU prepares to roll out, Nairobi will be the first test of a security model designed to improve policing, curb crime, and strengthen collaboration between the county and national government. If successful, the model will extend to Kisumu, Mombasa, Eldoret, Nakuru, and other growing urban centres.