700 employees of the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) were rendered jobless after the county government released them from work.
Addressing the media on Friday, February 3, Nairobi County Head of Public Service, Jairus Musumba, explained that the contracts of the 700 employees had expired.
Musumba added that the workers' contract expired in December 2022, and Governor Johnson Sakaja's government couldn't extend them.
However, he clarified that the 700 employees were not fired but released from various stations across the county.
"I want to confirm that we have not sacked any employee. The contracts they entered with NMS ended in December 2022," he stated.
However, NMS President Enforcement Officer, Wabuyabo Alex, lamented the move claiming that they were treated unfairly by the county government.
He indicated that the governor had promised to retain them in the county.
"These workers were employed professionally by the Public Service Commission for a contract of three years. Sakaja and NMS signed a deal during the transition, with the governor promising to absorb the staff," he argued.
Wabuyabo's vice, Hamisa Said, added that most of the NMS staff were being trained on the county functions. Thus releasing them from work projected that the training was done without a proper employment plan.
To this effect, they called on Sakaja to reconsider the decision, noting that their families were the most affected. Some lamented that they were unable to take their children to school.
"We cannot accept to be trained for three months on the by-laws and then released. Where will we go?" Said posed.
NMS officially handed transferred functions to Sakaja on September 30, 2022. The defunct body oversaw the health, transport and planning functions after former Governor Mike Sonko signed a deed of transfer.
