- Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has criticized the KSh 80 billion partnership between the national government and Nairobi County, saying it violates the constitution due to the lack of public participation.
- He warned that the management committee is headed by national government officials, leaving Governor Sakaja under Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi
- While President Ruto defended the agreement as out of date and promised billions in infrastructure and services, Sifuna insisted that the agreement was tantamount to expropriation and demanded that it be canceled in the public interest.
Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifunahas condemned the KSh 80 billion partnership between the central government and Nairobi Council, saying it violates the constitution by not involving the public.
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He warned that the advisory committee is dominated by central government officials, which puts Governor Sakaja under the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Stay Mudavadi.
When the President Ruto he defended himself about the agreement saying that it is a long time needed and promised a billion for infrastructure and services, Sifuna emphasized that the agreement is like usurping power and urged that it be canceled in the public interest.
Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna, has strongly opposed the cooperation between the Nairobi Council and the central government.
According to him, the agreement was not satisfied with the people of Nairobi, adding that the plan violates the independence of the city as a county.
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Wednesday, February 18, Sifuna advised Sakaja to immediately cancel the agreement, adding that it violates the constitution because there was no public participation before it was signed.
“I would like to say that my office was not involved or told before this decision was reached. In fact, the Cooperation Agreement itself recognizes that there was no public involvement before it was signed yesterday, a violation of the Constitution that cannot be ignored,” he said.
He also noted that the advisory committee appointed to implement the agreement is governed by central government officials.
If this structure continues as it is, Sakaja will be under the Cabinet of Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who is the chairman of the committee, thus handing over his power to the central government.
“Among the 12 members of the committee, a large percentage are appointed by the central government. From its structure, the Governor will be dependent on the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, thus making Sakaja an Assistant Governor in all senses. This to me is not cooperation but a power grab,” he noted.
The KSh 80 billion partnership was signed at the White House on Tuesday, February 17.
The signing brought together Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Sakaja to oversee projects in the water, road, housing, street lighting, waste management, and river restoration sectors.
It was signed in the presence of President William Ruto.
Mudavadi will be the chairman of the advisory committee, with Sakaja as his assistant, while the implementation committee consisting of heads of departments and county officials will handle day-to-day implementation.
Mudavadi and Chief Prosecutor Dorcas Oduor were representing the central government, while Sakaja and the County Attorney signed on behalf of the county.
Underscoring the importance of the agreement, Ruto emphasized its legitimacy, saying it should have been implemented 14 years ago and expressing sadness that the capital is drowning in filth.
He declared that Nairobi must operate at high levels of order, infrastructure, efficiency, and service delivery, not only for its five million residents but also for the millions who rely on the city every day.
The president added that the city has national, regional, and international responsibilities, while it is largely financed with the same formula as other counties.
Clarifying that he has no intention of running the city, Ruto promised to help, allocating billions for street lighting, housing improvements, water treatment, drainage expansion, and road networks.
He also appointed the minister of Internal Security Dating Murkomen to create a special team for the City of Nairobi to strengthen security.
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