By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, April 9, 2026 - President William Ruto on Thursday stepped into City Hall for a moment that signals a new chapter in Kenya’s devolved governance, becoming the first Head of State to formally address a county assembly.
His visit to the Nairobi County Assembly comes 16 years after the introduction of devolution, in what is being seen as an effort to bring national leadership closer to county decision-making.
Ruto arrived at City Hall shortly after 1pm, where he held a closed-door meeting with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja. The two leaders later proceeded to the Assembly chambers for the much-anticipated address.
He was received by Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Kennedy Ng’ondi, as crowds gathered outside City Hall, hoping to witness the historic occasion.
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The President is expected to speak to a full house of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), with his address coming at a time when the relationship between the national government and Nairobi County remains under close public scrutiny.
The move is being framed as a push to strengthen collaboration between the two levels of government, aligning national priorities with county-level implementation.