Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has rejected plans to move Kenya’s capital from Nairobi, stating that the idea is unfeasible due to legal and practical limitations.
During his appearance before the Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on March 30, Mudavadi indicated that relocating the capital would conflict with Kenya’s land ownership framework.
Mudavadi acknowledged that other nations have relocated their capitals, mentioning Nigeria’s shift from Lagos to Abuja and Tanzania’s move from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma. However, he emphasized that Kenya’s circumstances are distinct.
“Relocating the capital to another city is not possible for us. Tanzania succeeded with Dodoma and Nigeria transitioned from Lagos, but our land tenure system cannot support similar solutions,” Mudavadi explained.
Mudavadi pointed out that a significant portion of urban land is privately held, which he identified as a key obstacle to implementing such a move.
“Extensive urban land is owned by Kenyan citizens, making the creation of a new capital impractical,” he added.
Mudavadi also emphasized the financial burden of such relocation, specifically noting the substantial expenses involved in moving major infrastructure projects like the Standard Gauge Railway.
Senate committee questions centered on whether relocation or expansion of the capital would be more viable, particularly considering challenges like flooding and structures built on riverbanks.
Rather than relocating the capital, Mudavadi stressed the importance of exploring alternative approaches to enhance Nairobi’s infrastructure and urban governance.
Consequently, Mudavadi defended the cooperation agreement between Nairobi County and the national government, designed to boost the capital’s performance in four critical sectors, including water and sewage systems.
This collaboration also addresses construction and renovation of roads, bridges and drainage systems, housing and associated infrastructure development, and solid waste management along with Nairobi river restoration.
Given Kenya’s current situation, Mudavadi highlighted existing initiatives under the Ksh80 billion cooperation framework between the national and county governments.
“The joint steering committee that I head is not responsible for implementation. Execution is overseen by Governor Sakaja through an operational committee collaborating closely with technical experts from both the national government and City Hall,” he clarified.