Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has filed a lawsuit against Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani, escalating his long-running standoff with the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) and its Director-General, Mohammed Badi. The case, filed at the High Court, challenges what Sonko describes as an unconstitutional transfer and mismanagement of Nairobi County funds, arguing that the national government has overstepped its mandate in controlling devolved functions.
In his petition, Governor Sonko accuses the Treasury of unlawfully channeling county revenue to NMS without the approval of the Nairobi County Assembly. He claims that the move undermines devolution and violates the constitutional principles of financial independence for county governments. The lawsuit comes at a time when tensions between City Hall and NMS have heightened, with both sides trading blame over stalled projects, duplicated roles, and alleged misuse of public funds. While NMS has defended its record, pointing to visible improvements in infrastructure, health, and sanitation, Sonko insists that the agency’s operations lack transparency and proper oversight.
Political observers note that the legal battle marks a turning point in the tug-of-war over Nairobi’s governance. Established in March 2020 through a presidential order, NMS was tasked with handling key functions including transport, planning, and public works, following an agreement signed between Sonko and the national government. However, the governor later disowned the deal, claiming he signed it under duress. The outcome of the lawsuit is expected to have far-reaching implications on how future power-sharing arrangements between county and national governments are managed. As the case proceeds, the spotlight remains on whether the court will side with Sonko’s call for devolution autonomy or uphold the national government’s argument that NMS’s intervention was necessary to restore efficiency in Kenya’s capital city.