This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's vision for Nairobi's development is finally bearing fruit. The Nairobi Metropolitan Service, established to strengthen urban services and infrastructure, has made significant strides in just 100 days. The service, which aims to improve the status of the city, has been tasked with bringing an end to corruption and dismantling cartels that had hindered growth in the county.
As part of its mandate, the Nairobi Metropolitan Service has taken over four county functions: Health, Transport, Planning and Management, and Public Works and Ancillary Services. This transfer of functions, facilitated through a Deed of Transfer signed between the National Government and the County government, has enabled the service to swing into action and deliver on its promises.
Under the leadership of the Nairobi Metropolitan Service, Nairobi has undergone a remarkable transformation. The city's infrastructure has been refurbished, and new construction projects have been initiated. Walkways and footpaths have been refurbished, roads recarpeted, and non-motorized paths created for pedestrians in the Central Business District.
The government has also provided employment opportunities to the youth, including those living on the streets, through the Kazi Mtaani Programme. In Nairobi, the ongoing construction of Grogan Road has been largely done by those living in the streets. Informal settlements have also started to receive various services, giving them a facelift. Boreholes have been sunk, providing access to clean water at no cost to residents in areas such as Mukure Kwa Njenga.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Service has made significant improvements in waste collection and disposal, water and sanitation, housing and urban development, transport, and public works. The President recently toured the water purification facilities at Kiboro Primary School in Mathare, where treated water is consumed for free.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has acknowledged that the city required a system overhaul to provide efficient services to city dwellers. The Nairobi Metropolitan Service has taken the first step towards achieving this vision, and its initiatives are in line with the country's development agenda.
