Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has justified the cooperation agreement between Nairobi County and the national government, describing it as a strategic partnership for service delivery improvement rather than a transfer of functions.
The governor spoke to the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations at their hearing on Thursday and refuted accusations of misconduct, insisting that the deal worth Sh80 billion is constitutional and perfectly legal.
Sakaja addressed the senators regarding the financial constraints of Nairobi and how the county needs more finance to be able to run its operations efficiently in the capital. He further explained that the agreement is not about the county powers being taken away by the national government but that the intention is just to provide the county with capacity and the best service delivery.
“My only reason for partnering was to get resources for the people of Nairobi,” he said.
Nonetheless, the senators expressed concerns on the role of the Executive and the County Assembly, cautioning that any cooperation document should protect the county from losing its autonomy and its power of oversight.
Although some of the committee members who were present at the hearing acknowledged that Nairobi is facing financial challenges, they emphasized that there should be a proper legal instrument that can guarantee that the county’s identity as well as its constitutional independence is not compromised.
