NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 – Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has raised concern over a planned signing ceremony at State House involving the National Government and Nairobi County, warning against any move that could undermine devolution.
In a statement, Sifuna expressed surprised over reports of a scheduled cooperation agreement, noting that Governor Johnson Sakaja had previously assured leaders and residents that no county functions would be transferred to the National Government.
“The Governor of Nairobi assured us he wasn’t transferring any functions to the National Government. I’m surprised to see a scheduled signing ceremony at State House this afternoon,” Sifuna said.
As the details of the agreement remain unclear, the senator urged the county leadership to strictly adhere to constitutional requirements, particularly on public participation and consultation with elected leaders.
He cautioned that any attempt to reassign devolved functions without following due process would face strong opposition.
“I remind Governor Sakaja to be mindful of the provisions of the Constitution and the need for involvement of the electorate and the leadership of Nairobi prior to making such decisions. Any unconstitutional clawback to devolution shall be strenuously resisted,” he added, noting that a comprehensive statement would follow.
The planned State House ceremony comes amid reports that the National Government is set to enter a cooperation framework with Nairobi County to take over or jointly manage key functions in the capital, a move aimed at improving service delivery.
The development has reignited debate over the management of Nairobi, drawing comparisons to the 2020 transfer of functions that led to the establishment of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
While county officials have described the arrangement as a partnership to enhance service delivery, critics argue that any transfer of devolved functions must comply with constitutional procedures, including approval by the Nairobi County Assembly and adequate public participation.
The agreement is expected to be signed later today, with political leaders and residents keenly awaiting details on its scope and implications for the governance of the capital.
