The High Court of Kenya has issued urgent directions in a constitutional petition challenging a new cooperation agreement between the National Government and the Nairobi City County Government. In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Justice Bahati Mwamuye certified the case—filed by petitioners Bernard Peter and Christine Gathoni—as urgent. The legal challenge names several high-profile respondents, including the Attorney General, the Prime Cabinet Secretary, the Nairobi Governor, the Nairobi City County Government, the County Assembly, and the Senate. This, they say, risks the commitment or expenditure of public funds without the approval of the Nairobi County Assembly or oversight by the Senate. They warn that continued implementation could alter the constitutional allocation of functions between the national and county governments before the court pronounces itself on the legality of the arrangement.

Source: The Star February 18, 2026 13:56 UTC