President Ruto Addresses Nairobi County Assembly, Unveils Major City Transformation Agenda
News Updated: 09 April 2026 17:27 EAT
President William Ruto at the Nairobi City County Assembly ahead of his inaugural address on April 9, 2026.
President William Ruto addressed the Nairobi City County Assembly today, marking the first time a sitting president has formally spoken to the county legislature of the capital city since the advent of devolution.
President Ruto emphasized the unique importance of Nairobi, describing it as “the seat of our sovereignty, the face of our nation, the engine of our economy, and the standard by which much of the world judges our nation.”
Earlier in the day, he attended a meeting at the Kenya International Conference Centre (KICC) with 40 African ministers, reinforcing Nairobi’s role as a continental hub. “Many of them will go back home and they will report that they came to Kenya. But the reality is that they came to Nairobi,” Ruto said.
The President noted that Nairobi’s performance has direct national consequences. “When Nairobi works, Kenya works. When Nairobi fails, Kenya pays the price,” he stated, highlighting the urgency of coordinated governance.
Ruto criticized chronic dysfunction and poor leadership in Nairobi over the years, saying the city has been “suffocated by disorder, delayed by indecision, undermined by poor planning, and held hostage by interests that profit from chaos.”
The President warned that mediocrity and political convenience have long held the city back. “Too many people in positions of responsibility looked away when hard decisions were required,” he said.
He enumerated key urban challenges, including flooding, garbage accumulation, congested roads, broken drainage, and overstretched sewage systems. “A capital city where too many residents still live without dignity in the very city whose labor sustains our national economy,” Ruto added.
The President highlighted Nairobi’s economic significance, noting that the city contributes 27.5 percent of Kenya’s GDP and generates over 4.1 trillion shillings annually.
He described Nairobi as “home to diplomatic missions, multinational firms, regional institutions, innovators, and entrepreneurs,” emphasizing that the city is not merely a county but a national asset.
President Ruto outlined the framework for improving Nairobi through the cooperation agreement signed between the national government and the Nairobi City County Government on February 17, 2026.
“This agreement is not ceremonial. It is not public relations. It is not politics for headlines,” he said, urging members of the assembly to actively participate in its implementation.
The President emphasized the need for disciplined leadership and execution. “Nairobi needs order. Nairobi needs execution. Nairobi needs results. And that is exactly what we intend to deliver together,” he said.
Ruto announced that the cooperation agreement is backed by an initial 80 billion shillings, providing a structured platform for measurable transformation in the city.
He outlined concrete interventions, including the installation of 50,000 new street lighting points, upgrading 40,000 existing lights, and adding 10,000 solar and smart lighting units, aiming to create a total of 100,000 functional lighting points.
The President said fabrication is underway, with installation starting in April, and expected improvements in safety and security across Nairobi within six months.
He also highlighted efforts to extend safe electricity through last-mile connectivity in informal settlements, including Kibera, to enhance living standards.
Ruto provided an update on housing initiatives, noting 93 ongoing and planned affordable housing programs, set to deliver over 180,000 units and market stalls, amounting to a total investment pipeline exceeding 360 billion shillings.
The President described these housing efforts as “urban reconstruction,” linking affordable housing with planning, infrastructure, services, jobs, and restoring dignity to working people.
He noted developments in sports and convention infrastructure, including the near-completion of the Talanta Sports Center and expansion of the Bomas International Convention Complex ahead of the 2027 AFCON tournament.
Ruto also signaled upgrades at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to reinforce Nairobi’s role as a regional aviation hub.
Concluding his address, the President stressed the importance of collaboration, accountability, and structured implementation to transform Nairobi. “The era of drift must end and the era of coordinated execution must begin,” he said.
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FELIX MAKONA
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