The first public participation forum on the landmark Sh80 billion cooperation agreement between the National Government and the Nairobi City County Government kicked off Wednesday with strong support from residents who hailed the initiative as a turning point for the capital.
The consultative meeting chaired by Speaker Ken Ngondi at Charter Hall, brought together residents,leaders and technical officers.
Participants welcomed the structured partnership announced in February 2026, saying it signals a new era of collaboration focused on fixing long-standing service delivery challenges.
“This is the kind of cooperation we have been waiting for. If the two levels of government work together, Nairobi will finally move forward,” said one resident during the session.
The agreement will see the National Government inject approximately Sh80 billion to strengthen critical sectors including waste management, roads and drainage infrastructure, and water services.
Residents expressed optimism that the funding will accelerate garbage collection reforms, unclog drainage systems that often cause flooding, and rehabilitate roads across estates and the Central Business District.
Governor Johnson Sakaja has consistently maintained that the partnership is designed to complement devolution and enhance efficiency.
“This is not a takeover. It is a structured cooperation aimed at improving service delivery for Nairobi residents while safeguarding county functions,” Sakaja has emphasized.
Unlike the previous arrangement under the now-defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services, the current framework does not transfer core county functions, but instead establishes joint coordination.
To ensure smooth implementation, a high-level steering committee chaired by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and co-chaired by Governor Sakaja has been constituted. The committee will guide policy direction and monitor progress to guarantee accountability and results.
Speaker Ken Ngondi affirmed that the process is firmly grounded in law, citing Article 186 of the Constitution and Section 6(5) of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, which provide for intergovernmental cooperation.
The Nairobi City County Assembly will hold public participation forums across all 17 sub-counties on Friday to ensure residents continue to have their say.
For many attendees, the forum marked the beginning of what they described as a practical and solution-driven approach to governance.
With clear legal backing, structured oversight, and significant financial support, residents expressed confidence that the Sh80 billion partnership will transform Nairobi into a cleaner, more organized and better-served city.
The assembly is expected to hold a special sitting on Monday next week to give it’s final verdict.
If it adopts the agreement in full,full implementation will follow.
