A new political storm is brewing over the future leadership of Kenya’s capital after Moses Kuria challenged the continued use of administrative arrangements that side line the authority of an elected governor.
In remarks that have quickly drawn national attention, Kuria warned that Nairobi cannot remain under what he termed “permanent receivership,” referencing past and current governance interventions by the national government.
For years, Nairobi has been at the centre of political tug-of-war between national authority and county leadership. The most dramatic moment came in 2020 when key functions of the county government were transferred to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), a national government unit led by Major General Mohamed Badi.
The move was justified as a rescue mission for a city plagued by corruption, poor service delivery, and administrative paralysis. Roads were repaired, health centers upgraded, and urban planning accelerated. To supporters, NMS was proof that firm national oversight could fix Nairobi’s chronic problems.
But critics saw something else: a dangerous precedent that weakened devolution and stripped city residents of their democratic voice.
Kuria’s latest comments suggest that the experiment with national control may be stretching too far. By also referencing Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, he signalled that the debate is no longer just administrative, it is deeply political. For Kuria, the answer leans strongly toward democratic legitimacy.
Nairobi is not just another county. It is: Kenya’s economic engine, the headquarters of major UN agencies in Africa, A regional financial and diplomatic hub.
An elected governor represents the will of the people, but political infighting has often slowed decision-making. An appointed authority may promise efficiency, but it risks eroding constitutional devolution.
Kenya’s 2010 Constitution created counties to decentralize power and bring services closer to citizens. Any move to permanently place Nairobi under national control would likely require legal and political battles.
The debate now unfolding could shape not just Nairobi’s future, but the entire philosophy of devolution in Kenya.
As political leaders weigh their options, one reality is clear: Nairobi’s governance is no longer just a technical issue, it is a symbol of power, democracy, and control.
Whether the capital remains under an elected governor or shifts toward an appointed metropolitan authority may soon become one of the most defining political questions in the country.
