For Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, the conversation about the city’s progress should no longer be limited to public meetings and political rallies.
He has now taken his administration’s plans, achievements and challenges to a digital platform, launching a podcast he says will give residents a direct opportunity to discuss the issues that affect them.
Sakaja described the new podcast as a modern version of the traditional baraza, where residents can raise concerns and engage directly on matters of development, service delivery and the day-to-day challenges facing the capital.
“Kitambo, the Chief used to call people for a baraza. I want to do a digital baraza. Welcome to Discussion with Nairobi—on issues affecting you, development, everything. Welcome to the baraza,” Sakaja said.
In the first episode, the Governor reflected on his time leading Nairobi, speaking about the satisfaction that comes with seeing county projects benefit residents as well as the frustrations that come with running the capital.
For Sakaja, the most rewarding part of holding the office is seeing county services make a real difference in people’s lives.
“The best thing about being Governor is creating impact people enjoying what you have been able to provide, like a child having food or a mother delivering in a better hospital,” he said.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja speaking during ‘Nairobi, Let’s Talk’ podcast on September 3, 2026.
PHOTO/NCCG
He, however, said public expectations remained one of the difficult parts of the job, particularly when residents expect government projects and services to be completed immediately.
“The worst is being misunderstood, and people wanting things done and everything quickly done. However, it is the best job,” Sakaja said.
The Governor said his administration had been guided by a wider goal of building a Nairobi that offers residents “a city of order, dignity, hope and opportunity.”
Asked to highlight three areas where he believed his administration had made a difference, Sakaja pointed to the changes in the Central Business District, the Dishi na County school feeding programme and improvements in healthcare.
He said the CBD had undergone changes aimed at improving order and dignity in the city centre.
“Go to CBD. It is different order and dignity, pavements and so on,” he said.
Sakaja also highlighted Dishi na County, saying the programme was now serving meals to more than 324,000 children every day.
In the health sector, he pointed to Mbagathi Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit as another key development, saying Nairobi had previously lacked such a facility within the county health system.
“Mbagathi has a neonatal ICU. We did not have ICU in the county; we now do have them,” he said.
The Governor added that his administration had delivered more projects than could be captured in the three examples he was asked to give.
“I can give you more than 10 examples of things we have done, but you have asked for three.”
Sakaja also credited political cooperation for helping his administration push forward with its plans for Nairobi.
He recalled that he won the governorship on a minority party ticket and had to work with leaders from across the political divide to ensure the county government could operate effectively.
“I got elected in a minority party and I had to make a decision to work with all the majority for the city to work,” he said.
According to Sakaja, the approach helped his administration roll out programmes such as the Green Army, which he said had employed more than 4,500 people on permanent and pensionable terms to support efforts to keep Nairobi clean.
He also cited the growth in the county’s own-source revenue as another area of progress, saying collections had risen from Sh8 billion to Sh15.4 billion.
Despite the achievements, Sakaja acknowledged that some plans had not moved as quickly as he had hoped.
He singled out the proposed waste-to-energy project, saying the plan remained on his agenda even though its progress had been slower than expected.
“One thing that is waste-to-energy. Eventually, we shall get waste-to-energy, but the process has not been as quick as I wanted,” he said.
Looking to the future, Sakaja said the implementation of the Urban Areas and Cities Act of 2011 would play a major role in changing how Nairobi is governed and developed.
He said the law had remained largely unimplemented for more than a decade but was now being put into practice under his administration.
“The implementation of the Urban Areas and Cities Act is the one that will change this city. Over a decade later, we have implemented it, and I am happy that it is being done when I am the Governor,” he said.
Sakaja said the reforms would also strengthen Nairobi’s argument for more funding because of its position as a major urban centre.
He further pointed to cooperation agreements involving the county as part of efforts to improve Nairobi’s position and make it more competitive internationally.
“Through this cooperation agreement, Nairobi will not be the same again. It is on the path to the First World,” he said.
The new podcast is expected to continue covering issues around Nairobi’s development and the delivery of services, including infrastructure, waste management, healthcare, education and urban planning.
Sakaja said feedback and questions arising from the first episode would also be brought into future discussions, giving residents an opportunity to remain part of the conversation as the podcast continues.