This archive report was first published on 20 June 2020.
Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Director-General Mohammed Badi is confident of resolving the dispute with Governor Mike Sonko over the transfer of Nairobi City functions. The dispute arose after a court declaration that the transfer of key county functions to the national government was illegal.
On June 19, 2020, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Badi expressed optimism about finding an amicable solution to the wrangles between the NMS and the Governor within the 90-day window granted by the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
According to Badi, the NMS has achieved almost 100 per cent of the services, goals, and functions that were transferred to it. He cited the successful collaboration with the National Youth Service, which has led to the achievement of objectives such as garbage collection and cleaning within and outside the Central Business District.
“In the judgment, the judge said that due to public interest, there would be no stopping of the services offered by NMS in the transfer of functions. The judgment instructed both parties to meet and whatever is deemed illegal (in the transfer agreement) be regularised for proper paperwork,” Badi said in an interview with The Standard.
On June 17, 2020, Justice Hellen Wasilwa declared that failure to seek Nairobi County Assembly’s approval rendered the deed of transfer document and subsequent appointments unconstitutional. The case was filed at the Employment and Labour Relations Court by activist Okiya Omtatah, supported by Sonko, who has since vowed to fight to have the agreement terminated, citing frustrations by people close to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
