About 700 enforcement officers whose contracts ended under defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) can temporarily breathe a sigh of relief after Governor Johnson Sakaja assured them of employment.

The statement by Sakaja came after the workers mainly drawn from the enforcement department staged protests following a letter by the County Government’s Chief Officer for Security and Compliance Tony Kimani saying they will be relieved of their duties following the expiry of their contract.

 In the letter dated February 3, Kimani requested the officers to report to Dagoretti Training College, and asked them to carry their working tools, including uniforms, and ceremonial dressings ‘for further instructions’.

 The officers have been working at the County Government of Nairobi as constables on renewable three-year contracts subject to satisfactory performance.

 However, yesterday, Sakaja said that he would not allow unfair dismissal as long as he is the county’s chief.

 Sakaja stated that he had ordered all the affected workers to report back to work amidst the tough economic times that many Kenyans are going through.  “I directed that all former NMS enforcement officers whose contracts with NMS had expired to report back to work immediately and be paid their pending dues. We will give them first priority to apply for the permanent and pensionable jobs under the Nairobi County Government,” he said.