Nairobians have backed sweeping governance reforms in the city, citing mounting urban challenges and systemic weaknesses in city management.
The forum, convened by Mtetezi – the Grassroots Economic Justice Movement in Riruta-Satellite, marked the start of a broader citizen engagement process aimed at shaping the future governance structure of the capital.
Participants voiced frustration over persistent problems affecting daily life, including flooding that disrupts homes and businesses, unsafe construction leading to building collapses, chronic traffic congestion, limited job opportunities, and overstretched essential services. Many said these were no longer isolated issues, but symptoms of deeper structural failures in how the city is run.
From the deliberations, about 68 per cent of attendees supported transitioning Nairobi into a Metropolitan Special City — a model they argued would strengthen coordination, improve long-term planning, and enhance the city’s ability to respond to complex urban pressures.
Supporters said such a framework could enable stricter enforcement of regulations, more coherent infrastructure development, and closer collaboration between county and national government institutions.
A further 21 per cent of participants favored a hybrid governance model that retains an elected city governor while formalizing stronger partnerships with the national government on major infrastructure, planning, and regulatory functions. Proponents of this approach said it would strike a balance between local accountability and access to national resources and technical expertise.
However, about 10 per cent of attendees preferred maintaining the current county system, warning that new governance layers could increase bureaucracy and weaken accountability. Instead, they called for stricter enforcement of existing laws and more efficient use of current structures.
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Despite differing views on the preferred model, participants converged on concerns over the over-politicization of city governance. They pointed to frequent conflicts between the County Executive and Members of the County Assembly, saying such disputes disrupt leadership, stall development projects, and slow service delivery.
“There is too much politics and too little continuity,” one participant noted during the discussions, echoing a widely shared sentiment that governance systems should prioritise professionalism and results over political cycles.
Across the board, five priorities emerged: stronger enforcement in the construction sector, improved urban planning and drainage systems to address flooding, better transport coordination to ease congestion, continuity in development projects beyond election cycles, and more transparent and accountable decision-making.
Participants also underscored the need for meaningful public participation, particularly greater inclusion of young people in policymaking and oversight.
Mtetezi said the Riruta/Satellite forum reflects an evolving public discourse on Nairobi’s future, with broad agreement that reforms are necessary even as debate continues on the best governance model.
The organization plans to hold similar forums across the city to ensure that any transition is informed by the voices, priorities, and lived experiences of residents.
