When the President walks into City Hall’s Assembly chamber next week, he won’t just be making a speech—he’ll be stepping into uncharted territory for Kenya’s devolution era.
President’s planned address to Nairobi MCAs marks a defining moment for devolution—and could reshape the conversation around the capital’s governance.
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In a move that could redefine the relationship between Kenya’s national and county governments, President William Ruto is set to deliver a historic address to the Nairobi City County Assembly—an event without precedent since the advent of devolution.
The address, scheduled for Thursday, April 9 at 2:30 p.m. inside the Assembly Chambers at City Hall, will make Ruto the first sitting president in Kenya’s history to speak directly to a county legislative assembly.
According to a letter from the President’s Chief of Staff, Felix Koskei, the engagement follows a formal invitation from Members of the County Assembly (MCAs). The lawmakers have also been asked to submit briefs outlining issues they wish the President to address.
“I refer to your letter dated Ref. No. NCCA/SPK/OP/2026/02/01 dated 18th February, 2026, inviting His Excellency the President to address the County Assembly on 9th April, 2026,” the correspondence to Assembly Speaker Ken Ngondi reads in part.
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“This is therefore to inform you that the event has been programmed accordingly on 9th April, 2026, at 2.30 pm at the Assembly Chambers, City Hall, Nairobi. You are requested to forward a brief and any other relevant information to this office for use by His Excellency.”
The session will take place just two days after the assembly reconvenes from its Easter recess—setting the stage for what could be one of the most consequential moments in the history of county governance.
A First Since Devolution
Kenya’s system of devolved governance, established under the 2010 Constitution and operational for more than a decade and a half, created 47 county governments with their own legislative assemblies. Yet, in all those years, neither a sitting nor former president has addressed any of them.
Ruto’s planned appearance therefore breaks new ground, symbolically bridging the national executive with county legislative authority in a manner never before witnessed in Kenya’s political landscape.
Pact at the Center of Debate
The address also arrives amid intense national conversation over the recently signed National Government–Nairobi County Cooperation Pact.
Signed at State House nearly two months ago, the framework aims to coordinate development and service delivery in the capital. However, it has sparked heated debate among residents, political leaders and governance experts.
Critics argue that the arrangement risks eroding the spirit of devolution by effectively transferring control of Nairobi’s key functions to the national government.
But the administration insists the agreement is designed to unlock long-stalled development in the capital.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has been among the pact’s most vocal defenders, describing it as a pragmatic response to Nairobi’s persistent infrastructure and service delivery challenges.
“The agreement establishes a unified framework for planning and implementation, reducing fragmentation and duplication across agencies,” Mudavadi said.
“It ensures both levels of government work in a synchronised manner to deliver urban services efficiently.”
Billions for Nairobi’s Transformation
At the heart of the cooperation framework is an ambitious urban transformation programme valued at approximately KSh80 billion.
The investment is expected to fund a range of projects aimed at modernising infrastructure and improving service delivery across the city—an undertaking the government says requires close collaboration between the two levels of administration.
As the date of the address approaches, political observers say Ruto’s speech could provide crucial clarity on the future of Nairobi’s governance—and signal how far the national government intends to go in redefining its partnership with county authorities.
For Kenya’s devolution journey, the moment may prove more than symbolic.
It could mark the beginning of a new chapter in how power, responsibility and development are negotiated between State House and the counties.