The on-off battle between City Hall and Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) could rear its head once again with the two parties now tussling over the payroll.
They are yet to resolve the issue of payroll management four months after more than 6,000 county staff were seconded to NMS by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
Last week, NMS Director-General Mohammed Badi-led office said it was yet to get the payroll from the county government despite having the bulk of City Hall employees.
On the other hand, City Hall maintains that it should be the custodian of the payroll since county staff are employed by the Nairobi County Public Service Board, not the PSC.
The latest spat emerged during negotiations for a return-to-work formula for doctors who had been on strike.
It was at the meeting that NMS Deputy Director-General Robinson Thuku revealed they have been struggling to get the payroll from the county, yet it would have helped them to resolve some of the issues the doctors raised.
“Once NMS gives us the payroll we will know the number of doctors we are dealing with,” Mr Thuku said at the time.
Acting County Secretary Justus Kathenge said the payroll issue will be resolved by a team headed by Solicitor-General Ken Ogeto.
In a meeting of the team last Thursday, NMS raised the issue, saying it wanted the payroll handed over.
City Hall objected to the demand, saying county staff seconded to the agency are still under it so it should be responsible for their salaries.
The county demanded that the transfer of staff be regularised as a court ordered in June so that the employees do not run the risk of being rendered jobless should the Deed of Transfer not be extended upon expiry.
“The contention is that the secondment was not properly done as the County Public Service Board was not involved. The PSC seconded the staff to NMS instead of City Hall, which was letters to the staff,” a county representative said during the talks.
“What will happen to them if after the 18 months the deed is not extended and they are no longer Nairobi County staff? We are just trying to protect the staff and their jobs.”
With no compromise reached, the team ruled that human resource teams from NMS, City Hall and the PSC, and a representative from the AG’s office, meet to iron out the issue.
Governor Mike Sonko’s Spokesperson Ben Mulwa on Monday said the push and pull over the payroll is unnecessary and that City Hall is the employer with the responsibility to process and make payments to the workers.
Mr Mulwa stated that all county staff, including those who have been transferred to NMS, have been receiving their salaries on time.
“NMS is not an employer but an entity created to implement some functions on behalf of the county,” he noted.
