Mtetezi Riruta Forum, the Grassroots Economic Justice Movement, today conducted its inaugural public participation forum in Riruta/Satellite, bringing together young residents to openly deliberate on the future governance structure of Nairobi.
This forum marked the official commencement of a broader citizen engagement process aimed at grounding governance reforms in the lived realities of ordinary Nairobians. The engagement captured a strong sense of urgency among participants.
Young people spoke candidly about the daily challenges they face, ranging from flooding that disrupts homes and businesses to unsafe construction and frequent building collapses. Concerns were also raised regarding persistent traffic congestion, limited economic opportunities, and the mounting strain on essential services.
There was a shared sentiment that these issues are no longer isolated incidents but reflect deeper structural weaknesses in how the city is managed. From the discussions, a clear majority—approximately 68% of participants—expressed support for transitioning Nairobi into a metropolitan special city.
Proponents of this model viewed it as a practical step toward strengthening coordination, improving long-term planning, and enhancing the city’s capacity to respond to complex urban challenges. Many noted that a metropolitan framework could enable more consistent enforcement, better infrastructure development, and closer collaboration between county and national government institutions.
A further 21% of participants proposed a hybrid governance approach. This group supported retaining an elected city governor while formalising stronger collaboration with the national government to handle large-scale infrastructure, planning, and regulatory functions.
They emphasised the necessity of striking a balance between local accountability and access to national-level resources and technical capacity. Meanwhile, a smaller segment of about 10% preferred maintaining the current county structure, citing risks of increased bureaucracy and a potential dilution of local leadership.
They called instead for stricter enforcement of existing laws and more efficient use of current governance frameworks. Across all viewpoints, there was a consistent concern regarding the over-politicisation of Nairobi’s governance.
Participants noted that leadership is often disrupted by political contestation, including conflicts between the county executive and members of the county assembly, which undermines stability and slows down service delivery. Consequently, there was a strong call for governance systems that prioritise professionalism, continuity, and results over political cycles.
Despite differences in preferred governance models, several shared priorities emerged as essential for the city’s future: stronger enforcement in the construction sector, improved urban planning and drainage systems to address flooding, better transport coordination to reduce congestion, and ensuring continuity in development projects beyond electoral cycles.
Above all, participants emphasised the importance of transparent decision-making and the meaningful inclusion of young people in shaping policy and monitoring its implementation.
Mtetezi notes that this inaugural forum reflects a thoughtful and evolving public discourse. While opinions differ on the exact governance model Nairobi should adopt, there is broad agreement that reforms are necessary and that any future structure must be anchored in accountability and responsiveness.
The Riruta/Satellite engagement is the first in a series of public forums that Mtetezi will convene across the city, ensuring that any governance transition is informed by the voices and aspirations of Nairobi residents.
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