Nairobi's Sh80bn development deal stalls as only three of 40,000 streetlights installed
Written on
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has urged the national government to fast-track the Sh80 billion Nairobi cooperation agreement, revealing that only three of 40,000 planned streetlights have been installed and that water and waste projects have stalled.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has called on the national government to address delays affecting the Sh80 billion agreement to upgrade Kenya's capital, citing slow streetlight installation, stalled water projects, unpaid funds for school meals and challenges in waste management.
The Sh80 billion Nairobi cooperation agreement is a joint development pact signed on February 17, 2026, between the national government led by President William Ruto and the Nairobi City County Government led by Governor Sakaja. The framework aims to upgrade core infrastructure, improve urban liveability and address long-standing service delivery gaps.
Speaking on Monday during the Second National Development Implementation Committee meeting in Nairobi, Sakaja said only three of the 40,000 streetlights planned for installation across the city had been installed since the agreement was signed, blaming the slow progress on challenges with the contractor. "Only three lights out of 40,000 have been installed. We have a challenge with the contractor. Please help us," he said. He added that the county had agreed with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) that each agency should pay electricity bills for roads under its management, after situations in which streetlights were switched off over unpaid bills.
On water supply, Sakaja said Nairobi produces 525.6 million litres a day against demand of 900 million litres, with the Northern Collector Tunnel adding 140 million litres to supply. He said the Ngethu treatment plant loses 30 million litres daily through backwash filtration and that a proposed Sh5 billion project could add 70 million litres a day, while Maragua Four is expected to provide 180 million litres daily for Sh60 billion but has not progressed through an infrastructure fund. The Kariobangi water treatment plant, meant to lift capacity from 30 million to 90 million litres daily, is stuck over disagreements with the contractor.
On solid waste, Sakaja said the agreed funding arrangement requires Nairobi County to meet 60 per cent of costs with the national government covering 40 per cent, but funds allocated to the Ministry of Environment had not been released to Green Nairobi. He said Sh42 billion in projects remained unfunded and needed government support, and called for guidance from the Attorney General on a court order affecting water and housing projects.