City Hall agrees to permanently employ 43 NMS doctors

Forty-three doctors who served under the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) can breathe a sigh of relief, as they are set to be employed by the Nairobi County Government.

This follows a return-to-work agreement struck on Thursday between Governor Johnson Sakaja and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists' Union (KMPDU).

The forty-three are comprised of thirty-five medical officers and eight specialists.

KMPDU's Secretary General, Dr. Davji Atellah, confirmed meeting Governor Sakaja and agreeing on the way forward.

The two parties decided to appoint the unconfirmed doctors under NMS on permanent and pensionable terms.

"The doctors will pick up their letters on August 12, 2024. This means all 115 medical officers and 18 specialists under NMS will be confirmed to permanent and pensionable terms, with the additional employment of 35 medical officers, 31 pharmacists, 20 dentists, and 8 specialists," Attelah added.

Atellah further noted that he was grateful to the county's leadership for its cooperation and commitment to recognising the vital contributions of medical professionals.

KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atellah (C) addresses the press in Nairobi on March 18,2024, regarding the doctor's strike. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

"At KMPDU, we are committed to ensuring no member is left behind. We are stronger together," Attelah said.

The doctor's fate has been in the balance since 2022, when Governor Sakaja took over City Hall and abolished the existence of NMS, then led by Lieutenant General Mohamed Badi.

The absorption of NMS doctors was one of the 19 demands made by doctors during their nationwide strike, which lasted 56 days.

When the strike ended, the agreement with the Health Ministry included the confirmation of these doctors.

However, there are still challenges with fully equipped city hospitals that lack adequate staff. The defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Service had built several state-of-the-art hospitals across Nairobi to provide high-quality medical services to the city's growing population.

Despite the advanced facilities, these hospitals are struggling with significant financial issues and a severe shortage of staff, which is affecting their ability to deliver services effectively.

Even the posting of 500 workers previously associated with NMS has not fully resolved the staffing crisis.