Some 34 contractors who worked for the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) before it was dissolved in 2022 have threatened legal action against the government over Ksh273 million in unpaid dues.
In a demand letter seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the service providers alleged that they had been contracted by NMS to offer services in four key Nairobi County functions, including health, transport, utilities and ancillary, and physical planning and development that the agency took over in March 2020.
Although some of the contractors were paid in full, several others were reportedly never paid their dues, and after years of being tossed around different government offices, they decided to band together in August last year and demand their payments.
"To execute its mandate, NMS engaged the services of various qualified suppliers and contractors who discharged their mandates exhaustively under the supervision of NMS personnel," the letter read in part.
"Whereas some of the contractors and suppliers engaged were paid in full by the procuring entity, a sizeable number of us remain unpaid, with our payment vouchers existing under pending bills."
They further claimed having been caused undue frustrations, immense hardships and unbearable costs incurred in the process of following up on their payments.
Addressed to the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, the demand letter sought full settlement of all outstanding bills currently being processed with immediate effect, failure to which they would take action.
"Further, kindly take note that you have seven (7) working days from the delivery date of this letter to respond to our demand, failure to which we shall seek other avenues and measures to ensure our payments are honoured, up to and including spending days & nights at your office," the letter read.
"We trust that you will address this issue with the urgency and seriousness it demands."
Others addressed in the letter were the chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Pending Bills, Speaker Moses Wetangula, and the Attorney General.
Although the 34 contractors are drawn from all four county functions that NMS was briefly responsible for, 19 of them are drawn from the health sector for services rendered to several Nairobi hospitals, including Mama Lucy, Pumwani and Mbagathi.
On September 30, 2022, the NMS, led by Lt. General Mohammed Badi, handed back the four functions to the Nairobi City County Government, with Governor Johnson Sakaja promising to retain its staff and work towards its vision of an efficient capital.
"There will be no former NMS staff or former County Government staff. You are all one, and together we will work towards strengthening the Nairobi City County Government. Together we will ensure Nairobi not only works, but becomes a City of Dignity and order, Hope and Opportunity for all," Saka said when taking over the NMS' mandates.
