CAPTION: NMS Director of Health Dr Ouma Oluga Frustrated county health workers contracted by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) are up in arms against the General Badi-led entity for failing to execute promised promotions despite Sh538 million being set aside for that purpose.
Speaking to this blog on Wednesday, 8 June, one of the afflicted staffers directly blamed the Director of Health Dr Ouma Oluga for the unresolved mess after it emerged that the former KMPDU Secretary General played a major role in the diversion of the funds to satisfy his personal interests.
Thousands of workers who have served on probation for over 12 years watched their dreams of being permanently absorbed washed away when the NMS returned the money allocated for promotions, redesignation and confirmations back to the Treasury.
Bearing in mind that no promotions have been made in many years and some employees have moved up only one grade in about 20 years.
Just one month prior, NMS director-general Mohamed Badi had directed Finance and Human Resource (HR) Directors to immediately confirm all pending promotions. https://youtu.be/lz_Y-J0OKqc
This unprecedented move quickly sparked a deep sense of discontentment among the healthcare providers who, in their protest against the unfair treatment, have come forward to expose a myriad of irregularities like rampant nepotism and discrimination under Dr Oluga's incompetent and corrupt administration.
In the detailed account of events shared below, the source paints a clear picture of betrayal and deceit from the former union boss, who is now reportedly oppressing the same people he once proudly defended.
It is a widely shared feeling on the ground that, since Dr Oluga was appointed in March 2020, the state of affairs at NMS has been on a downward spiral thanks to skewed management largely made up of family members and friends from his native community.
This includes an unqualified HR Manager who is notorious for tormenting health workers with blessings from his boss who cares less about their welfare.
This is clear from his constant skipping of meetings when invited to discuss pressing issues.
They only spot him in conferences and workshops where he earns exorbitant allowances. “Hi, Nyakundi, Keep my identity anonymous. We reached an agreement with NMS in 2020 to promote, confirm and re-designate all health workers, but instead of implementing it, NMS took us to court. It has managed to corrupt judicial officers, mpaka leo we have not concluded the case. In the Last financial year, 20/21 NMS returned Sh538M meant for promotions, redesignation and confirmations to the Treasury. The former unions’ boss turned NMS Health Director is a guy with not only excess pride but discrimination and nepotism. He only promoted doctors leaving out the other 17 cadres including nurses, clinical officers, pharm techs and public health officers. He colluded with the President’s contractor, who was building the 24 facilities to pocket a lot of monies. He employed his own cousins and people, some of who are not qualified. For instance, he employed a cousin who is a biomedical technologist as a laboratory officer earning allowances which he wasn’t supposed to earn. In the 24 facilities, most of those in charge and administrators are Luos. HR Director has frustrated health workers. He is not a qualified HR. He is an accountant who was a payroll manager at Kanjo. He is the one who stole the payroll of workers seconded to NMS. We don’t understand how an accountant who doesn’t understand HR is a Director. NMS promoted from job group L to S. He has a bodyguard and a GK vehicle. He has totally forgotten health workers’ plight. Most health workers have stagnated in one job group for over 10 years, some are still on probation for 10 years. Those who went back to school to gain extra academic papers and skills remain undesignated or promoted. Four weeks ago, the DG directed as per the video above but unfortunately; the Sh238m meant for promotions has been diverted to pay contractors so that Dr Oluga and Kibet can get kickbacks. The DG is not living up to his word. NMS is a dead institution full of illegalities. The main committee where directors sit to address issues, HRMAC, has never sat for 6 months. EACC must investigate Dr Oluga and HF Director Kibet. They are filthy rich just two years into NMS's inception. We demand that the diverted money is returned so that they promote health workers before the end of this financial year 21/22. Dr Oluga has so much pride such that he never attends meetings where health workers’ issues are discussed. He is only interested in conferences and workshops or international trips where he makes money. He has totally neglected health workers. The 24 hospitals they build are a shell, with no drugs at all. Locals not benefiting at all. They handed over a county facility to KNH to cut deals. How did they hand over Korogocho level 5 hospital to KNH? KNH consultation fees are way beyond the locals' budget. Locals at Korogocho are not benefiting from the said hospital, which was later named Mama Margret Kenyatta Hospital,” the source writes.