President William Ruto has ordered the creation of a Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit to bolster safety and security throughout the capital.
During the signing of a pact between the national government and Nairobi County at State House on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the President issued a 60-day deadline to the Ministry of Interior. He instructed the Interior Cabinet Secretary to develop and submit a formal framework for this specialized unit, which will collaborate directly with Nairobi County’s existing security teams.
“I direct the Interior Cabinet Secretary to prepare and present, within 60 days, a framework for a dedicated Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit to work hand in hand with Nairobi County security,” Ruto stated.
Ruto: Nairobi Must Be Safe for All
The President believes this move will secure the capital for residents, international visitors, and the business community.
“We must make Nairobi safe for citizens, visitors, investors, and businesses,” he added.
During the announcement, Ruto clarified that the national government is not taking over any county responsibilities. He dismissed any suggestion that he intends to oversee the city’s day-to-day operations, insisting that Governor Johnson Sakaja and his administration retain full control.
“Let me repeat, there is no transfer of functions happening. For the avoidance of doubt, I have no interest in running the city of Nairobi. My hands are full. The governor and his team must run the city of Nairobi,” Ruto stated.
Ruto noted that as president, he remains committed to supporting the city while ensuring the Nairobi City County Government maintains its full legal authority.
“But I have an obligation as the president of Kenya to assist the city of Nairobi for all the reasons that I have stated. The Nairobi City County Government retains its legal mandate,” he added.
Four Pillars of the Nairobi Partnership
According to the president, the new agreement provides a structured way for the national government to offer support. Because Nairobi’s success impacts the entire nation, the partnership focuses on four specific pillars of cooperation:
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Water and Sewerage: Expanding access and improving infrastructure.
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Infrastructure: Developing roads, bridges, and drainage systems.
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Urban Housing: Building affordable homes and improving amenities like street lighting.
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Environmental Restoration: Managing solid waste and cleaning up the Nairobi River.
Two-Tier Leadership Structure
The agreement also establishes a two-tier leadership structure. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will chair a high-level steering committee with Governor Sakaja serving as his deputy. Meanwhile, Sakaja will lead a separate implementation committee to manage the day-to-day execution of these projects. It will comprise principal secretaries from the national government as well as county executive committee members responsible for corresponding functions
Sakaja Defends the Deal
Governor Johnson Sakaja echoed the president’s remarks, defending the agreement as a strategic partnership rather than a surrender of his duties. He argued that Nairobi’s existing financial resources—including its equitable share from the national government and its own internal revenue—fall short of the massive infrastructure demands of a rapidly growing capital.
“With a population of close to 7 million residents and with the city growing year on year, the equitable share from the division of revenue that provides resources to all the counties, as well as our own source revenue, can never be enough for the demanding needs of a capital city of the stature that we aspire to be,” Sakaja stated.
The governor explained that the partnership draws its legal authority from Section 6 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act. This specific provision recognizes Nairobi’s unique status as the seat of the national government and a global diplomatic hub, requiring specialized management and funding beyond that of the other 46 counties.
“Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya, the city of the national government, host to diplomatic missions, including the only United Nations headquarters in the global south, and the center of commerce and industry of the entire region, requiring a special arrangement,” he said.
Governor Sakaja added that the county and national governments already collaborate on several fronts, but this new agreement provides a solid legal framework for those arrangements.
“Already we’ve been partnering in a number of issues such as the Nairobi Rivers Commission and the regeneration of the river, water provision to the city, the school food feeding program, which has a separate agreement, roads and mobility, markets, housing, among other areas. This agreement solidifies those arrangements, providing a legal framework for additional support, including partnership in security and order,” the governor stated.
Not a Repeat of NMS
The governor stood firm in his assertion that this deal differs fundamentally from the previous Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) model. He described the NMS era as a “misadventure” that saddled the city with a 16-billion-shilling debt and undermined the principles of devolution.
“This is not a transfer of functions as happened during the NMS time, which was a misadventure that left this city with a 16 billion shilling pending bills hole and which did not augur well with the true spirit of devolution. It is not a transfer but a collaboration that is encouraged and which holds true regard to the mandate given to both of us by the people of Kenya and the citizens of Nairobi and to the constitution that we swore to abide by,” Sakaja said.
Sakaja also tied the partnership to immediate milestones, such as preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027, and Kenya’s larger ambition for urban growth.
“We’re on the journey to Singapore, and Nairobi will not be left behind. This is the capital of Singapore. “Excellency, the capital city will remain at the center of the transformation to first-world status,” he stated.
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