President William Ruto has ordered that a section of the State House built on riparian land be demolished.

While speaking during his address to the Nairobi County Assembly at the City Hall precincts on Thursday, April 9, 2026, the President stated that State House had received a notice from the multi-agency team reclaiming riparian land, indicating that part of the State House boundary falls within the riparian land of the Kirichwa Kubwa River.

The president said that despite this, the section must come down. He further added that the team informed him that almost 15 metres of State House land falls within the riparian reserve. He continued, stating that cities all over the world did not become large simply by chance but because their leaders chose discipline over disorder.

“We have received notice from the multi-agency claiming riparian land that part of the State House boundary, the wall along Kirichwa Kubwa River, falls within the riparian reserve, and it must come down. They have told me at least 15 metres from the high mark,” Ruto said.

According to the president, the status quo will not be spared in the upcoming demolitions of structures built on riparian land. This is part of a broader plan initiated after floods wreaked havoc in the city and across the county. He also expressed his disappointment that, in the 21st century, residents of a city can still be killed by floods.

He further urged ward representatives that if they are not ready to face temporary inconveniences, such as demolitions, they should forget about bringing change to the city.

“The great cities of the world did not become great by accident. They became great because leaders, like the one seated In this assembly, chose the discipline of a disorder.”

State of county address

This came during his inaugural address to the Nairobi County Assembly.

This makes history since, under the current constitution since 2010, there has been no situation where the president has addressed a county assembly, as the president is only limited to addressing a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate on the third Thursday of every year.

The president, who was from a function at KICC, walked across the road and entered City Hall, where he was warmly welcomed with ululations and cheers from the ward representatives as he marched to his designated seating area.