Nairobi City County Assembly members have welcomed and endorsed the cooperation agreement between President William Ruto and Governor Johnson Sakaja, saying the partnership will accelerate development and improve service delivery in the capital.
In a statement dated February 19, 2026, the MCAs said the deal is people-centered and focuses on essential services that Nairobi residents have long awaited.
“We welcome and fully embrace this partnership. This cooperation is people-centered and focuses on the essential services that residents of Nairobi have long awaited,” the Assembly leadership said.
The MCAs urged Nairobi residents to support the framework, saying it will help transform the city into an international metropolis and place it on a path toward global standards.
They also commended President Ruto and Governor Sakaja for what they termed a progressive and forward-looking arrangement meant to strengthen Nairobi’s development capacity.
The county lawmakers argued that Nairobi has for years operated under serious financial constraints despite serving an estimated population of more than seven million, with an annual budget of about Sh40 billion.
They compared Nairobi’s financial position with major global cities, noting that Paris, which serves a smaller population, operates with a budget of about Sh1.4 trillion, while New York runs a municipal budget of over Sh16 trillion.
According to the MCAs, these examples show that cooperation between national governments and city administrations is a proven model for urban modernization, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, housing, transport and social programmes.
The Assembly said the cooperation framework is expected to bring in an additional Sh80 billion to support Nairobi’s development agenda, warning against what they described as divisive politics that could derail the agreement.
“How can Nairobi attain the standards of other world cities if we set aside a cooperation framework that brings an additional Sh80 billion in funding and instead focus on divisive politics?” the statement read.
They added that the agreement includes an implementation structure chaired by Governor Sakaja, working alongside national government officials to ensure accountability, transparency and effective delivery.
The lawmakers said they will play their oversight role and remain part of the process, noting that Nairobi residents stand to benefit directly from the projects and programmes expected under the partnership.
They called on residents and leaders of goodwill to support the initiative for the collective progress of the city and the prosperity of future generations.
