By Ongaga Ongaga
President William Ruto has defended the cooperation agreement between the National Government and Johnson Sakaja’s administration, even as a fresh court petition filed by Kenyans challenges the legality of the deal.
Speaking Wednesday during an inspection tour of the Nairobi River regeneration works, the President said the partnership — valued at about Sh80 billion — is solely aimed at accelerating service delivery and improving living conditions in the capital.
The lawsuit, filed at the High Court and certified as urgent, seeks to suspend implementation of the agreement, with petitioners arguing it could undermine devolution and transfer county functions to the national government without constitutional backing.
But Ruto dismissed the claims saying: “I already have enough work running the National Government. My interest is to ensure that we deliver to the people of this city as expected of us.”
He insisted that no county functions had been transferred, maintaining that the collaboration framework would instead fast-track development projects.
The President made the remarks while inspecting progress of the Nairobi River clean-up, including construction of two 27-kilometre sewer lines on both sides of the river corridor.
“It is not right for millions of people in this city to continue living in squalor. That is why we have dedicated enough resources to rehabilitate this river,” he said.
He said the programme is already creating jobs, with about 45,000 youth engaged under the ClimateWorx Mtaani initiative.
The inspection tour began at Lucky Summer in Ruaraka Constituency, where he reviewed sewer line construction works.
He announced that building of 44 bridges along the 27-kilometre stretch will begin soon.
Ruto also toured the Ngomongo Quarry dumpsite, pledging that traders and youth earning livelihoods there would not be displaced by the clean-up.
“I want to assure all of you who earn a living from this dumpsite that you will not lose your source of livelihoods. If anything, we will enhance it,” he said.
The President linked the river project to wider urban renewal programmes, including construction of 110,000 affordable housing units in Nairobi, road expansion and electricity connectivity.
He said Sh1.5 billion has been set aside for transformers and last-mile power connections in informal settlements, while Sh13 billion will fund construction of 200 kilometres of roads across city wards.
Plans are also underway to build 16 modern markets, including a Sh5 billion Gikomba Market.
Governor Sakaja defended the national-county partnership, saying it would unlock resources to transform Nairobi into a modern metropolis.
“You elected me as your governor, and I must do everything possible to raise standards. I had an annual budget of Sh40 billion — now it will more than double,” he said.
Addressing residents at Dandora Bridge, Ruto assured that no one living along the river corridor would be forcibly evicted without alternative settlement, adding that schools, social halls, libraries and playgrounds will be developed alongside the regeneration works.