Doctors now face disciplinary actions as the countrywide strike enters day 38 with no end in sight.
The Industrial Labour Court has ordered the Kilimani High Court to arrest the doctors’ union officials, after they failed to show up in court.
The doctors' refusal to heed the call to return to work by the council of governors could mean that they would be jobless come today, Wednesday, if the council of governors make good their threat.
The failure by the officials to present themselves in court now has them as the subjects of warrant of arrest.
“They have been notified to be in court, they have chosen not to appear, I cannot do anything else but issue a warrant of arrest. If they want to come back tomorrow let them come,” said judge Hellen Wasilwa.
The officials had been directed to be in court for a case that they are accused of being in contempt of court, in a case filed by the council of governors that sought to stop the strike.
“It is either they appear here on 12th on their own volition, or be escorted by the OCS Kilimani police station, those are my orders,” she added.
The doctors have remained steadfast in their quest to have a 300 per cent pay rise, even after the government through the president offered a 40 per cent increase.
Although they were absent in court, the union leaders, led by chairman Samuel Oroko and Secretary General Fred Uluko attended a doctors’ meeting at Railways Nairobi, to rally their colleagues to stay on course.
“They have tried all things available, they are going to advertise the jobs, they’ve talked about Cuba, India, everything,” said Oluko.
It now remains to be seen the direction the stand off will take, with most Kenyans suffering with the current stalemate between the government and the doctors.