Nairobi County to employ 43 NMS doctors on permanent, pensionable terms

A total of 43 medical officers and specialists who were contracted under the now-defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) will  be employed under permanent and pensionable terms by the Nairobi County Government.

The resolution follows a Wednesday meeting between Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah 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."

Sakaja abolished the NMS in September 2022 when he took office at City Hall after the year's elections, leaving the doctors' fate uncertain.

The Governor subsequently assumed the responsibility of performing functions related to the county's health, transport and ancillary services as well as projects involving Nairobi's public works, physical planning and development.

Speaking at City Hall on September 30, 2022, Sakaja assured NMS employees that they will have an important role to play in Nairobi County government's activities 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.