Sifuna Declares Ruto-Sakaja Agreement Unconstitutional, Lists 4 Steps to Restore County Power
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has strongly criticized the recently signed cooperation pact between President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, describing it as unconstitutional and a disguised takeover of county functions by the national government.
Speaking to the media on February 18, 2026, Sifuna highlighted that the agreement was finalized without prior public participation, which he said violates constitutional requirements for citizen input before such major decisions. He pointed out that the steering committee overseeing the pact is heavily dominated by national government appointees—two-thirds of its 12 members—placing the governor in a subservient role to the Prime Cabinet Secretary and effectively reducing Sakaja to a deputy-like position. Sifuna argued that this structure undermines devolution and creates risks like accountability gaps in audits by the Auditor-General.
The pact, signed on February 17, 2026, at State House, aims to boost collaboration in key areas such as water and sewerage services, road construction and drainage, housing and infrastructure, and solid waste management alongside Nairobi River regeneration. President Ruto has insisted that it is not a takeover, emphasizing that he has no intention of running the city and that the governor and his team remain in charge. However, Sifuna dismissed these assurances, claiming the deal brings no real improvement to Nairobi while allowing excessive national interference in county affairs. He also noted that post-signing public consultations with only a 14-day window for feedback fall short of genuine engagement and legal standards.
As better alternatives, Sifuna proposed immediate steps to strengthen county autonomy rather than relying on such agreements: the national government should release all outstanding funds owed to Nairobi County, fully transfer devolved functions as previously agreed under former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, ensure timely disbursement of county allocations by the Treasury (by the 15th of each month as required by law), and uphold proper constitutional processes to avoid any clawback on devolution. These measures, he argued, would genuinely empower Nairobi's governance without compromising its independence.
