Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has distanced himself from the worsening road conditions in the city, citing limited authority and resources.
In an interview on December 18, 2024, Sakaja addressed the growing frustration over potholes on major roads like Jogoo Road and Argwings Kodhek. He explained that these roads are managed by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), not the county government.
“There is a clear division of responsibilities between the national and county governments. Roads like Jogoo Road are classified as national roads and fall under the national government’s jurisdiction,” Sakaja clarified.
He noted that his administration does not receive funds to maintain such roads and pointed out that Members of Parliament (MPs) control road maintenance funds through the Road Maintenance Levy. However, these funds are rarely used to fix roads like Jogoo Road that span multiple constituencies.
“The money for road maintenance goes to the national government via MPs. Unfortunately, this leaves key roads in Nairobi neglected,” he said.
Sakaja also revealed that he had sought assistance from President William Ruto, which secured Ksh5 billion for repairing and upgrading roads in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD). He emphasized his commitment to improving Nairobi’s infrastructure and restoring the city’s reputation.
