This archive report was first published on 10 December 2019.
Published on December 10, 2019, by ROBERT SHAW
Nairobi's population has grown by 50% in just 10 years, reaching 4.5 million people, with the metropolitan area home to 6.5 million.
The city's importance extends beyond being Kenya's capital and economic hub, as it serves as a regional hub and epicentre for eastern Africa and beyond.
However, the city's administration faces significant challenges, including weak administrative capacity and inefficient core functions.
A commission of inquiry into the way forward for Nairobi could provide a much-needed template for future administrators and help the city leap over its current hurdles.
The commission's terms of reference would involve examining major challenges facing the county administration and how to overcome them, including building administrative capacity, auditing core functions, and addressing revenue collection.
Such a commission could also explore the possibility of the national government contributing more to the county's development and subjecting it to more devolution to improve services.
Ultimately, it's time to move beyond the Sonko personality cult and focus on building a better Nairobi for its citizens, one that receives the services it pays for.
