Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Governor of Nairobi City County, Njoroge Muchiri, on Tuesday (23), engaging in productive discussions on common urban challenges faced by both cities, including solid waste management, the maintenance of drainage and sewerage systems, and the provision of urban housing.
According to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Nairobi, accompanied by the Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Kenya, Ruvini De Silva, the Colombo Mayor and the Deputy Governor exchanged views on best practices and explored opportunities for knowledge sharing and cooperation between Colombo and Nairobi in addressing these critical issues.
The discussions also underscored the importance of adopting inclusive and consultative approaches to urban planning and development. Both sides emphasized the need to actively engage communities and stakeholders in decision-making processes to ensure sustainable, resilient, and people-centred urban growth.
The courtesy call further reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and Kenya and highlighted the potential for enhanced collaboration between the two cities in promoting effective urban governance and sustainable development.
The discussions came during Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar’s visit to Nairobi, Kenya, from June 21-24 as part of an official delegation participating in the Global Workshop on Urban Climate Resilience, held alongside the Innovate4Cities Conference 2026. (Newswire)