Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has criticized the recently signed cooperation agreement between the national government and Nairobi City County, calling it unconstitutional and a threat to devolution.
The agreement, signed at State House by President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, was intended to cover four key areas.
But Sifuna said his office was neither consulted nor involved in the process, and no public participation was conducted before signing.
“This is not cooperation. It is a takeover,” he said, adding that holding public consultations after the signing shows “disrespect to the people of Nairobi.”
Sifuna questioned the 14-day window set for post-signing public input, saying it is far too short to allow meaningful feedback. He also noted that the agreement limits citizen input to “amendments,” leaving the public no option to reject it entirely.
“Planning after the fact is not participation—it is window dressing,” he said.
The senator criticized the composition of the steering committee overseeing the agreement, saying it is heavily weighted toward national government officials. Two-thirds of the 12-member panel are appointees of the national government, leaving the governor subordinate to the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
“This arrangement undermines accountability and diminishes Nairobi’s autonomy,” Sifuna said.
Sifuna warned that the deal mirrors the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) model, which left the county with Sh16 billion in unpaid bills. He noted that Governor Sakaja had publicly criticized NMS just a week earlier.
“Thousands of contractors are still waiting for payment. Repeating this model puts livelihoods at risk,” he said.
He also dismissed claims that the national government’s contribution of Sh80 billion is generous, pointing out that over Sh100 billion remains owed to Nairobians in unpaid rates and other obligations.
The senator raised concerns over national agencies, such as KURA and KeRRA, continuing to manage roads in Nairobi, which are constitutionally county functions.
He noted that the late Raila Odinga had recommended dissolving these agencies in a 2025 MoU with President Ruto — a proposal that has not been implemented.