I will play my part, Sakaja makes pledges in first meeting with County staff

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Monday held the first meeting with the County Government staff at City Hall.

In his address, Sakaja urged the county employees to work diligently, pledging to do his part in making sure they deliver to Nairobi residents.

“I will be honest and candid with you. I will not promise you heaven but play your part and I will play my part. We want to ask you to trust us and work with us. What has been missing in Nairobi County is leadership, and we are here now,” Sakaja said.

The governor told the County staff that he would ensure their salaries and allowances are paid on time, that they will be equipped with the necessary tools and protected from external forces that often interfere with their work.

“Even within City Hall and the county government we need order. Salaries have to be paid on time. You have many unpaid allowances. Some of your statutory deductions were diverted like for NSSF, NHIF, sacco, Lapfund, and Laptrust. This will all be sorted out,” he said.

The Nairobi County staff raised a number of issues that they want the new administration to address. Top on their list was promotions that had stagnated for years.

Some 1600 nurses contacted by Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) expressed concern that they would be sent away after their contract expire. The Governor assured them they would all be absorbed since the functions that had been transferred NMS would revert to the County Government.

“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. What we must do is to meet our revenue targets so that we can afford to pay everyone, and even implement the collective bargaining agreements that have been signed recommending pay rises,” he said.

Sakaja added that the 9400 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) will be put on a monthly stipend.

In his inaugural meeting, Sakaja also said that the contract appointing Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) as the county collector of revenue would lapse.

He further ordered the release of motorbikes that had been impounded by the County Government, directing the identification of official drop off and pick up points for Bodabodas and Taxis.

This, he said, would bring order and allow them to operate within the law, saying freedom was not limitless.