Return of NMS? Inside President William Ruto's Ambitious Plan to Overhaul Nairobi After Talks With Sakaja

President William Ruto has unveiled a new joint plan with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja that aims to give the capital city a major facelift.

The plan, which focuses on four main areas, is designed to make Nairobi clean, bright, and well-organized — a city that truly represents Kenya’s future.

Speaking during the 70th anniversary of the Africa Inland Church (AIC) Ziwani on Sunday, October 12, 2025, President Ruto said he met with Governor Sakaja and several Nairobi leaders to find lasting solutions to the city’s problems.

“We have agreed to work together and transform Nairobi because it is the face of our nation,” Ruto said.

One of the biggest parts of the plan is a citywide cleanup campaign. Ruto explained that the government is partnering with private companies to help clean the estates, improve waste management, and restore the environment. 

He said Nairobi can no longer remain dirty and neglected, promising that every part of the city will feel the change.

The second focus area is roads. Ruto announced that the national government will fund the upgrade of all murram roads to tarmac to ensure easy movement and reduce flooding when it rains.

He added that good roads would not only make transport smoother but also improve business and investment opportunities in the city.

Lighting is another key part of the new plan. The President noted that large parts of Nairobi remain in darkness, making them unsafe and unattractive.

“We have agreed to light up every corner of the city,” he said, explaining that improved lighting would enhance security and promote night-time activities.

Ruto also spoke about long-term development, saying his government is focused on making Kenya a first-world country by 2055.

He believes projects like the Nairobi transformation plan will play a big role in achieving that dream.

One major project already underway is the Nairobi River cleanup, which will cost Ksh40 billion and is expected to be completed by January 2027.

Most of the funds will go toward building a proper sewerage system for households to make Nairobi a modern and healthy city.

The announcement comes weeks after Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga intervened to save Governor Sakaja from an impeachment attempt, giving him three months to show results — and this project could be his biggest chance to prove himself.