The Nairobi County Government has announced that 43 medical officers and specialists previously contracted under the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) will be transitioned to permanent and pensionable positions.
This decision follows a meeting between Dr. Davji Atellah, Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
Dr. Atellah confirmed that all 43 doctors, including 35 medical officers and 8 specialists, will have their positions regularized.
They are expected to collect their new employment contracts from City Hall on Monday, August 12, 2024.
This move marks a significant step in integrating NMS medical staff into the Nairobi County Government’s permanent workforce.
The resolution means that, in addition to the 43 newly confirmed positions, all 115 medical officers and 18 specialists previously under NMS will now be confirmed for permanent and pensionable terms.
This will also involve the addition of 35 medical officers, 31 pharmacists, 20 dentists, and 8 specialists to the county’s workforce.
Governor Sakaja, who dissolved the NMS in September 2022, had previously reassured NMS employees that they would remain integral to the county’s operations.
Upon assuming office, Sakaja took on responsibilities related to health, transport, and other key services previously managed by NMS.
During a September 30, 2022, address at City Hall, Sakaja emphasized unity among all county staff, stating, “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 reassured medical professionals, including nurses, of their continued importance within the county government.
The integration of NMS doctors was a key demand made by medics during their 56-day nationwide strike earlier this year.
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