Nairobi County has introduced a new administrative structure, the borough system — aimed at decentralizing services and bringing governance closer to residents. The reform divides the city into six boroughs, each managed by a dedicated Borough Manager tasked with overseeing essential services such as roads, water, waste collection and local infrastructure maintenance.
Under the reorganization, Nairobi’s 17 sub-counties and 85 wards are grouped into six boroughs: Central, Western, Northern, Eastern, Southern and South-Eastern. Each borough is to have its own budget and development plan, enabling tailored responses to the unique needs of its communities. The changes are intended to make service delivery more efficient and responsive.
Governor Johnson Sakaja, who spearheaded the reform, said the borough system is designed to cut through bureaucratic delays, boost accountability, and ensure that county resources are used effectively. Rather than requiring residents to visit central City Hall offices for basic services, the new model brings a “champion” — the Borough Manager — closer to local communities.
Residents will now have a direct point of contact for municipal services. Borough Managers will be responsible for coordinating service delivery, working with community committees and ensuring timely resolution of issues such as broken roads, delayed waste collection or water supply problems. Local communities and civic organizations will also have greater opportunity to influence development priorities through borough-level planning and oversight.
To support the transition, Nairobi County has allocated substantial funds for establishing borough offices and initial infrastructure. The 2025/26 budget provides resources for office setup, mobility logistics, and ICT support for each borough, marking a significant financial commitment to decentralization.
Advocates of the reform describe it as a paradigm shift in urban governance — moving away from a centralized, one-size-fits-all approach to a more localized, community-centric framework. For residents of informal settlements, dense suburbs, or sprawling residential areas, the borough system is expected to deliver faster response times and improved accountability. Now, services like garbage collection and road repairs can be handled within borough boundaries without waiting for county-wide scheduling or approvals.
Under the previous system, complaints about uncollected garbage, stalled development projects, and delayed water or sanitation services often lingered for months as they moved up bureaucratic channels. The borough model aims to shorten the chain of command and streamline issue resolution. Many believe this could boost public trust in county government, especially if residents begin to see tangible improvements in their daily lives.
However, analysts caution that the success of this new structure will depend heavily on execution. Key factors will include the capacity, integrity, and independence of Borough Managers; their ability to engage transparently with residents; and sustained funding for each borough. Under-funding, political interference or lack of oversight could undermine the intended benefits.
As part of the rollout, the first set of Borough Managers has already been named. For instance, the Central Borough — covering several downtown areas — will be managed from offices established at City Hall and Shauri Moyo. Other boroughs are expected to follow, with services gradually shifting away from central administration toward localized governance.
This new borough system represents a significant transformation in how Nairobi is governed. It signals the county’s commitment to modernize administration, enhance efficiency, and devolve power closer to communities. If implemented with discipline and transparency, the reform could transform public service delivery in Nairobi — changing how residents access services and how local government operates in Africa’s largest city.
Image by Citizen Digital
