CALL OFF STRIKE or else… court to striking doctors

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials now have five days to call off the strike or face a one-month jail term over contempt of court.

In a ruling by the Employment and Labour Relations Court, the court has further indicated that the extension is not for negotiations but to resolve the stalemate that has seen medical services paralyzed for 53 days.

In her ruling, Justice Hellen Wasilwa said: “It is the duty of this court not to send anyone to jail. But the role of this court is to find a solution.”

“Given that the matter is in public interest. I will further suspend the sentence,” read the ruling in part.

Thursday’s ruling follows an initial two-week ultimatum issued by the court that lapsed at midnight.

Doctors camped outside the Milimani Law Courts in solidarity with their leaders.

Earlier, the government through its lawyers insisted that medics call off their strike to end the suffering of patients in hospitals.

The stalemate continues with union officials maintaining a hard-liner stance, refusing to call off the strike until the 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement is fully implemented.

The doctors union continue to accuse the government together with the Council of Governors of failing to show any good will in the negotiation process and instead threatening them with sacking, law suits and arrests.

The union officials having indicated their willingness to go to jail if that is the only way to achieve reforms in the health sector, the government has on the other hand maintained that it can only afford a 40 per cent pay hike.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s Cheche Show on Wednesday, January 25, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Henry Rotich emphasized that any offer higher than 40% would stretch state coffers.

The doctors’ strike follows a three-year industrial dispute concerning the disputed CBA signed on June 27, 2013 that was to be effected on July 1, 2013.

If implemented, the 2013 CBA would see the lowest paid doctor earn a salary of over Ksh 300,000 and the highest paid would earn slightly under Ksh 1 million per month.

The doctors are now expected back in court on 31st of this month.