Nairobi — Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has criticized the newly signed national-county cooperation framework on Nairobi's governance, terming it the "greatest attack on devolution since its inception."
In a statement Tuesday, Owino accused Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja of surrendering the county's mandate to the national government, arguing that the move undermines the spirit and constitutional principles of devolution.
"The Governor of Nairobi has confirmed he was given a job he is not qualified for by handing over key county functions to State House. Despite collecting billions from Nairobians, he has given up on serving Nairobians. He should respect Nairobians and resign," Owino said.
"This will go down as the greatest attack on devolution since its inception. We will correct this in 2027 or sooner."
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Owino's remarks come hours after the national government and Nairobi City County signed a joint framework intended to accelerate infrastructure development and enhance service delivery in the capital.
Under the agreement, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will chair a high-level steering committee, with Governor Sakaja serving as deputy, to coordinate national and county priorities and fast-track transformative projects.
The framework introduces a two-tier governance structure, with a policy steering committee led by Mudavadi and an implementation committee chaired by Sakaja to oversee day-to-day execution of agreed projects across sectors such as water, sanitation, roads, housing, street lighting, and informal settlement upgrades.
During the signing ceremony at State House, President William Ruto emphasized that the initiative does not transfer county functions to the national government but rather seeks to unlock additional resources and institutional coordination beyond constitutionally allocated funding.
He cited Nairobi's unique status as Kenya's capital and a global diplomatic and commercial hub as justification for enhanced national support.
Governor Sakaja described the agreement as "13 years overdue," arguing that Nairobi's global and regional responsibilities require a governance and funding model distinct from other counties.
He dismissed comparisons with the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) arrangement, describing it as a past misadventure, and framed the new deal as a collaborative model consistent with the principles of devolution.
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Mudavadi, who will chair the steering committee, acknowledged the initiative may attract political criticism but insisted that stronger national-county collaboration is necessary to secure Nairobi's future amid competition from emerging African capitals.
The framework also includes commitments for major infrastructure projects, water supply expansion and waste management funding.
However, Owino's criticism shows growing political divisions over the governance of the capital, with critics warning that the arrangement could erode county autonomy, while proponents argue it represents a pragmatic approach to addressing Nairobi's long-standing infrastructure and service delivery challenges.
