Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has continued to defend the recent cooperation agreement between the national government and Nairobi city county, saying the arrangement is aimed at accelerating development and improving service delivery for Nairobians.
Ruto said the transformation of Nairobi is central to Kenya’s development agenda, calling for closer collaboration between the two levels to improve infrastructure, sanitation and public services in the capital.
Speaking Wednesday while addressing residents at the Kangemi overpass after an inspection tour of development projects in Kabete and Westlands constituencies, the President said the journey to a modern, globally competitive city must begin with fixing Nairobi.
“The journey to a city like Singapore starts here in Nairobi. That is why I have said the national and county governments must work together so that we can transform this city,” he said.
Ruto said the government’s priorities include improving waste management, expanding street lighting, increasing water supply and upgrading roads to make the capital cleaner, safer and more efficient.
“We must clean Nairobi and remove garbage. We must install street lights and eliminate darkness. We must bring more water and build better roads to eliminate dust and mud so that Nairobi becomes a capital city that reflects a country that is moving forward,” he said.
The President emphasised that improving the capital’s infrastructure and environment is critical to attracting investment, creating jobs and enhancing the quality of life for residents.
His tour began with an inspection of the Kabete Social Protection Affordable Housing Project, one of the initiatives under the government’s affordable housing programme aimed at increasing access to decent and affordable homes while creating employment opportunities.
Ruto later handed over newly completed classrooms at Kangemi Primary School, Kihumbuini Primary School and Westlands Primary School, saying the investments were part of efforts to improve learning conditions and support the education sector.
He noted that infrastructure development in schools would help reduce congestion and provide a better learning environment for pupils in densely populated urban areas.
The President was accompanied by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris and Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi and his Lang’ata counterpart Phelix ‘Jalang’o’ Odiwuor, among other national and county leaders.
Sakaja said the county government was working closely with the national administration to improve service delivery, particularly in areas such as waste management, lighting and road maintenance.
Ruto said sustained cooperation between different levels of government would be key to turning Nairobi into a clean, orderly and well-serviced capital that supports economic growth and reflects Kenya’s development ambitions.
