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City MCAs question Sakaja’s cabro project in Nairobi CBD
Piles of broken concrete blocks and paving stones lie at a roadworks site along Kimathi Street in Nairobi's Central Business District on July 18, 2026, as contractors continue upgrading pedestrian walkways and public spaces under the Nairobi city centre regeneration programme.
What you need to know:
- The county is expected to produce a detail report on the name of contractor and the procurement method used in awarding the contract.
- It is also expected to table a report on the scope of work under the contract including the roads, streets and pedestrian walkways covered.
Complaints from traders and hawkers operating in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) regarding the ongoing rehabilitation of pavements and walkways have been escalated to the Nairobi County Assembly.
This follows a statement by Baba Dogo Member of the County Assembly Geophrey Odhiambo Majiwa, in which he called for transparency regarding the scope of the ongoing cabro installation project overseen by Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration.
The changes in the CBD have been taking shape for the last three months since the national government and the county government announced partnership of Sh80 billion meant to improve service delivery to the locals.
Piles of broken concrete blocks and paving stones lie at a roadworks site along Kimathi Street in Nairobi's Central Business District on July 18, 2026, as contractors continue upgrading pedestrian walkways and public spaces under the Nairobi city centre regeneration programme.
The new cabros are being installed along Moi Avenue, Tom Mboya and Kimathi Street.
According to Mr Odhiambo, the county should come out and address the public interest regarding procurement process, scope of work, project timeline, timeline, and value of the money.
“It is imperative that the County Assembly exercises its oversight role to ensure that public resources are utilised prudently, that the project is implemented in accordance with approved specifications, timelines and applicable laws,” Mr Odhiambo said.
In his statement, the county is expected to produce a detail report on the name of contractor undertaking the cabro pavement works within the CBD and the procurement method used in awarding the contract.
It is also expected to table a comprehensive report on the scope of work under the contract including the roads, streets, pedestrian walkways covered, including showing the approved contract, sum, and the source of funding for the project.
The county has also been asked to provide a report on the commencement date and the expected completion date of the project as well as the current implementation status with minimum disruption to business and public activities.
While the matter touches on the department of Mobility and Works which is under County Executive Committee member Charles Kerich, the CEC said that the ongoing works will cover all the area where the changes are needed.
Piles of broken concrete blocks and paving stones lie at a roadworks site along Kimathi Street in Nairobi's Central Business District on July 18, 2026, as contractors continue upgrading pedestrian walkways and public spaces under the Nairobi city centre regeneration programme.
He however failed to disclose to the Daily Nation the amount that the county is spending on the project and the areas of priorities.
“It is not an issue of either paving the pedestrian walks or repairing the backstreet lanes. Both will be done,” Mr Kerich said.
Among the backstreet lanes which are dilapidated includes service lane behind Nation Center, and some which are at downtown.
It is unclear why some of the roads and lanes were left undone in the recent construction of roads across the city which stretched to estates.
According to the county government, prior to the Sh80 billion deal, the national government had released Sh2 billion for the improvement of roads in the city.
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