Sakaja refutes claims of ceding Nairobi County’s Key functions to national govt
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, February 11, 2026Nairobi Governor John Sakaja has denied claims that his government has surrendered the city’s key functions to the national government.
This comes after reports emerged claiming that Sakaja had struck a deal with President William Ruto, surrendering key functions to the national government, including garbage collection and disposal, public works, and water supply.
Taking to his X handle on Tuesday night, February 10, 2026, Sakaja moved to calm speculation that the county has ceded the functions to the national government, insisting that the county government will retain full responsibility for the management of the capital city.
“Fake news. No functions or roles ceded,” Sakaja said.
Sifuna terms Sakaja’s move unconstitutional
Sakaja’s response came after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna questioned the constitutionality of the purported transfer. Responding to a report from a local TV station on Tuesday night, February 10, 2026, Sifuna argued that such a transfer would be considered unconstitutional without approval of the Nairobi County Assembly.
“Constitutionally, there has to be a deed of transfer of functions. It has to be approved by the county assembly. I have seen neither,” Sifuna noted
Ruto hints
Speaking at a rally on Sunday, February 8, 2026, Ruto emphasised that his administration would play a direct role in the city’s development.
“I will come here and ensure work is done on cleaning the city, affordable housing, and building roads… should we leave it to others, or shall we act?” Ruto said.
Under the new arrangement, Ruto hinted that the national government will oversee essential services, including waste management, road construction and maintenance, affordable housing projects, and water collection and distribution.
Is it a return of NMS?
During President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko transferred key county functions to the national government by establishing the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
In March 2020, Sonko and then-Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa signed a Deed of Transfer at State House, Nairobi, moving critical services such as health, public works, transport, and water management under the control of NMS, which was placed directly under the Office of the President.
By late 2022, when Governor Johnson Sakaja assumed office, the functions had reverted to the county government after the original deed of transfer expired.