Team in City Hall and NMS dispute seeks more time

Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) director-general Mohammed Badi and Nairobi governor Mike Sonko at KICC, Nairobi, on August 22. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

A team tasked with resolving a dispute between the City Hall and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) over transfer of some county functions to the State is yet to find a solution.

The team has asked for 30 more days as it seeks to address the sticky issues regarding implementation of the Deed of Transfer that saw the national government take over some county functions.

Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto, who is in the team, said they have been meeting since mid-August. The High Court gave City Hall and NMS 90 days to regularise the deed.

The dispute started after Governor Mike Sonko accused NMS of violating the agreement of July 24, accusing it of overstepping its mandate.

Reach consensus

The team has so far met three times. The court gave the parties until September 18 to reach a consensus on several issues they differed on, including the governor’s official residence, secondment of county staff, pending bills and contracts and the NMS, led by its director-general Mohammed Badi, should be financed.

Ogeto yesterday asked for more time within which he hopes a deal will be reached.

“We held our third meeting last Thursday and the Attorney General requested for 30 more days to resolve the dispute and the county government agreed to it,” said a county official who is part of the talks.

The official added: "The county government has also raised issues regarding the scope of transferred functions complaining of attempts by NMS to assume functions beyond those contemplated in the Deed of Transfer through ancillary services."

The governor accused the NMS of taking over operations of the inspectorate department, enforcement, ambulance services, markets and trade, and taking the ceremonial car and the Mayor’s house.

“NMS agreed to give back the ceremonial vehicle but concerning the governor’s official residence, they said they needed a week to consult with their bosses on the way forward,” said the county official who sought anonymity.

At the same time, a joint team comprising officers from NMS, City Hall and the AG's office has been tasked with making recommendations on how to resolve the issues.

Financing NMS has proven a hot potato with Sonko’s administration insisting that funds should be transferred to the County Revenue Fund (CRF) from where they would be disseminated to NMS.