Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has strongly opposed the cooperation agreement signed between President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, calling it a hostile takeover of county functions and an attack on devolution.
Speaking at the Parliament Buildings on Wednesday, Owino accused the national government of illegally taking over key responsibilities that belong to Nairobi City County. He said the process was rushed and done without proper public involvement.
“Today I want to comment on the hostile takeover of certain key functions of the county government of Nairobi, which were transferred to the national government. This process was illegally done,” Owino said.
The MP, who has declared interest in the 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial race, questioned why public participation would be conducted after the agreement had already been signed. He described the move as unconstitutional and unnecessary.
“We’re being informed that public participation is supposed to be done after the signing of this agreement. This is completely unconstitutional, and I don’t see the need as to why the national government should move in a hurry to kill the spirit of devolution within Nairobi County,” he added.
Owino also criticised Governor Sakaja, accusing him of betraying the trust placed in him by Nairobi residents.
“The Governor, in his wisdom or lack of the same, agreed to transfer responsibilities which were bestowed on him by Nairobians. Nairobians trusted the wrong person,” Owino said.
He further argued that shifting functions such as roads, water, street lighting and garbage collection would not solve service delivery problems but could create room for misuse of public funds.
“An Incompetent body has taken over another incompetent body; this is a race of two pygmies competing on who is taller than the other,” he said.
He demanded accountability over Nairobi’s own source revenue and claimed the county has limited control over its collection system.
Owino said he plans to table a dossier to expose what he termed as irregularities.
The agreement signed by President Ruto and Governor Sakaja allows the national government to inject Ksh.80 billion into Nairobi to improve services in housing, roads, water and waste management.
A joint steering committee chaired by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will oversee its implementation.
Both Ruto and Sakaja have denied that the deal transfers county powers, saying it is a constitutional collaboration.
However, opposition continues to grow. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna also criticised the agreement, arguing that legal procedures were not properly followed.
“The agreement in Clause 6.2 infact anticipates the outcome of the proposed public participation, limiting it to amendments and forgetting that the people in their righteous might have the option of rejecting the whole arrangement in toto,” said Sifuna.
“Of the 12 members of the committee, a whopping two-thirds are appointees of the national government. From its structure, the Governor will be subservient to the Prime Cabinet Secretary, making Sakaja the new Deputy Governor for all intents and purposes.”
The agreement is expected to take effect after public participation through the Nairobi County Assembly, though critics insist that consultation should have come before signing.
