President William Ruto made history on Thursday, April 9, 2026, becoming the first sitting Kenyan head of state to formally address a county assembly since the inception of devolution. Speaking at the Nairobi City County Assembly in City Hall, the president underscored Nairobi’s unique status as a national asset contributing over 27% of the country’s GDP, declaring that the city’s challenges are now too urgent for fragmented governance.
The address aimed to solidify an Sh80 billion infrastructure cooperation pact signed in February between the national government and Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration. Key highlights of the transformation plan include the construction of 247 kilometers of city roads, a massive overhaul of solid waste management, and the installation of 50,000 high-quality street lights to enhance security and the 24-hour economy.
In a move that surprised the assembly, President Ruto used the platform to order the immediate demolition of a section of the state House perimeter wall. The directive followed reports that the wall encroached on protected riparian land along the Kirichwa Kubwa River. The president emphasized that environmental laws must apply to everyone, stating that reclaiming riparian reserves is essential to preventing the perennial flooding that has historically devastated the capital.
“Nairobi is the capital of Kenya, the face of our nation, and the engine of our economy,” President Ruto declared during his speech. “The dysfunction in our city is now too large and too costly for the nation to be managed through turf wars or business as usual. We must confront the cartels that thrive in disorder and restore the dignity of our people.”
The president also challenged the Members of County Assembly (MCAs) to support bold reforms, including the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Project, which aims to clean the Mathare and Ngong rivers while creating 40,000 new jobs. He reaffirmed his commitment to the Affordable Housing Program, noting that over 180,000 units are planned for the county to eliminate informal settlements.
The historic session concluded with a call for bipartisan cooperation to ensure the “Nairobi Rising” agenda yields tangible results for residents. Following the address, the President joined Governor Johnson Sakaja to greet crowds gathered outside City Hall, reiterating that the national government will provide all necessary support to restore Nairobi’s status as Africa’s green city
