A total of 43 medical officers and specialists who were contracted under the now-defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) will be employed by the Nairobi County Government on permanent and pensionable terms.
This decision came after a meeting on Wednesday between Dr. Davji Atellah, Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
“In our agreement, all 43 doctors (35 medical officers and 8 specialists) will be confirmed to PnP,” Dr. Atellah said in a statement after the meeting.
He added that the cohort of doctors will pick up their employment contracts from City Hall on Monday, August 12, 2024.
“This means all 115 medical officers and 18 specialists under NMS will be confirmed to permanent and pensionable terms, with additional employment of 35 MOs, 31 pharmacists, 20 dentists, and 8 specialists,” said the KMPDU boss.
“We sincerely thank Governor Sakaja for his cooperation and commitment to recognizing the vital contributions of our medical professionals.”
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐓𝐖𝐅: 𝐍𝐌𝐒 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬
Yesterday, we engaged with Nairobi Governor @SakajaJohnson regarding the unconfirmed doctors under NMS.
In our agreement, all 43 doctors (35 MOs & 8 specialists) will be confirmed to PnP. pic.twitter.com/1WTZgIIfuj
— Davji Bhimji Atellah (@Davji) August 1, 2024
Sakaja abolished the NMS in September 2022 upon taking office at City Hall after the year’s elections, leaving the future of the doctors uncertain. Following this, the Governor took on responsibilities for functions related to the county’s health, transport, and ancillary services, as well as projects concerning Nairobi’s public works, physical planning, and development.
During a speech at City Hall on September 30, 2022, Sakaja assured NMS employees that they would play a significant role in the activities of the Nairobi County government moving forward.
“I want to urge my staff in Nairobi City County and those who are coming back that you are all now one. There is no former NMS staff and no former county government staff. You are all staff of the County and you will work together as equals,” he said then.
“We will have space for everybody and I also want to assure the nurses because many of them felt that when NMS goes that they will go home. We still need you.”
The integration of NMS doctors was one of the 19 demands made by medics during their 56-day nationwide strike earlier this year.
