City Hall workers first priority in payments, says Sakaja

Nairobi county staff are now relieved after Governor Johnson Sakaja promised to prioritise their payments to streamline City Hall affairs.

Sakaja said no law firms, contractors or suppliers will be paid before the staff, failure to which, the concerned person will be answerable. 

“I know there are many unpaid allowances, statutory deductions and other pending bills. My administration will ensure staff are paid on 30th of every month,” he said on Monday.

“My administration will also set up and anonymous email and box where one can drop their complaints and suggestions. If we hide behind ideas, Nairobi will not move forward.”

Sakaja held his first meeting with county staff at City Hall. 

He called on the employees to work diligently, pledging to do his part in making sure they deliver to Nairobi residents.

“I will not promise you heaven but play your part and I will play mine. Trust us and work with us. Leadership has been missing in Nairobi but we are here,” the governor said.

On the transfer of functions, Sakaja said they will be reverted to the county government while the contract appointing the Kenya Revenue Authority as the county collector of revenue would lapse.

Issued raised by some of the seconded staff to the Nairobi Metropolitan Service include promotions that had stagnated for years.

Some 1,600 nurses contacted by NMS expressed concern that they would be sent away after their contract expires, however, Sakaja said they would all be absorbed.

“All the new health facilities that were opened by NMS belong to the county government and will need the staff. So we will retain the contract nurses,” he said.

“We must meet our revenue targets for us to pay everyone, and even implement the collective bargaining agreements that have been signed recommending pay rises.” 

Sakaja said the 9,400 Community Health Volunteers will be put on a monthly stipend which will reduce the health budget.

Nairobi has 7,320 health community workers who work in 99 health centres. 

Each health worker is in charge of 100 households within the county.

In the 2021-2022 Finacial Year, Nairobi allocated Sh308 million towards rolling out the stipend and National Health Insurance Fund cover for health volunteers.

As part of the allocation, Sh100 million will be used for the initial payment of the community health volunteers.

This saw the monthly stipend for the community health volunteers increase from Sh1,300 to Sh3,000.

To bring order within the Central Business District, designated areas will be set up for hawkers and boda bodas.

Sakaja said for businesses to work within the city, they have to understand the government and work together.

He, however, asked boda bodas and hawkers to operate within the law, saying freedom was not limitless.

“We will meet hawkers and designate areas to operate from,” Sakaja said.

He also directed the county inspectorate to identify drop-off and pick-up points for boda bodas and electronic taxis, to allow them to operate in an orderly manner and prevent harassment.

The governor ordered that all impounded boda bodas be released.

In July, Nairobi Metropolitan Services said they planned to release all boda boda motorcycles impounded within Nairobi before polls.

NMS director general Mohammed Badi said he would consult Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai over the matter.

Badi admitted that boda boda operators have been victims of rogue enforcement officers.

He said then said he has initiated disciplinary action against the rogue officers and will dismiss them.

Boda boda riders in Nairobi have been protesting against extortion by inspectorate officers.

Despite parting with Sh3,000 monthly license fee, rogue city askaris still demand bribes whenever they encounter the operators.

In August 2021, the Inspectorate department led by Mark Leleruk launched a crackdown on matatus, boda bodas, hawkers and parking bays to restore order in the CBD.

More than 200 motorbikes were impounded and taken to the Central police station but later released.

The boda boda industry has been in the spotlight for involvement in crime and other anti-social activities.

Some have on numerous occasions been blamed for ferrying criminals from crime scenes.

To restore order and sanity in the industry and ease regulation of boda boda activities, the Nairobi City County in March 2021, said it would register all boda boda operators at the subcounty level.

This would see each operator issued with unique identification numbers for ease of identification in case of an accident or criminal activity.

The registration would also enable City Hall to issue the riders with stickers to identify them from riders from other counties.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris