Nairobi County is set to create six boroughs in a bid to decentralize public services.
A borough is a term used to describe an administrative division in various countries or counties.
Initially, Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration sought to have five boroughs, however, a Technical Committee Taskforce on the establishment of Boroughs recommended having an additional one.
"Following intense and successful public participation, it was resolved that the number of boroughs be increased from the original five to six," a cabinet dispatch dated January 7, 2024 reads.
The team conducted public participation in November 2023 to get the views of residents.
The boroughs include Central, Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern and South Eastern.
Each of the Boroughs will have one plan, one budget and will be managed by a Borough manager.
The committee also proposed the construction of a headquarters in each borough.
All the 17 sub-counties have been aligned to the six boroughs.
Northern
The Northern Borough will consist of Kasarani, Roysambu and Ruaraka sub-counties.
The committee has proposed its headquarters to be located at Gatharaini grounds ( LRNO.57/1536/2) in Kasarani LRNO.57/1536/2.
"During the public participation forum, the residents of this borough had no opposition to the headquarters being in Kasarani," reads the dispatch.
Central
Starehe, Kamukunji, and Mathare sub-counties will make up the Central borough.
The task force recommended the headquarters be located at Kamukunji sub-county.
Land for the building will be sourced from one of the estates marked for low-cost housing projects.
Western
Western Borough which will include Westlands, Dagoretti North and Dagoretti South sub-counties will have its headquarters either at Waruku or Kawangware.
However, this is subject to the availability of land within those locations and with a service.
Southern
For the Southern Borough, the proposal is to have Kibra and Lang’ata sub-counties in it.
The proposed headquarters will be at Joseph Kang’ethe Social Hall LR NO.209/5806 in Kibra.
City Hall is also planning to set up a borough service centre at the stalled social hall.
Eastern
The Eastern Borough will have the bulk of Eastlands including Embakasi Central, Embakasi West and Embakasi North Sub counties.
Its headquarters will be at DCC’s compound LR NO.157/3 in Embakasi Central.
"The land is currently hosting the DCCs and security offices and is easily accessible by residents of Embakasi Central, Embakasi West and Embakasi North," reads the dispatch.
However, since it will be a shared resource, the County Secretary has been tasked to engage the Nairobi Regional commissioner to allow the County to set up the office there.
The task force also recommended for retention of the service center at Embakasi North HDD offices.
South Eastern
The South Eastern borough will include Embakasi South, Embakasi East, and Makadara sub-counties.
The recommended Headquarters will be in Makadara where land will be sourced from the Low-Cost Housing project.
The proposal will be re-submitted to the County Executive Member for Boroughs for adoption and approval.
During the campaigns ahead of the August 2022 elections, Governor Sakaja the then Senator had said if elected, he would divide Nairobi into five boroughs to decentralize the county’s leadership.
Each of them would headed by city managers whom he will appoint.
“The city managers will deal with the specific needs of every part of the city. Once Nairobi works, Kenya works,” Sakaja said.
The Urban Areas and Cities Act, of 2011 allows county governments to partition their areas and appoint city or municipal managers to be in charge of specific areas.
