The Employment and Labour Relations Court has extended the suspension of a jail sentence it granted doctors’ union officials on the condition that they end the strike in five days.
Judge Hellen Wasilwa also ordered the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials to continue having talks with the government.
The Judge who had a fortnight ago given doctors a two-weeks suspended sentence told the doctors’ union officials to call off the strike since the contested issue was of great public interest.
Justice Wasilwa noted that she had not sent anyone to prison for the last 10 years and does not wish to jail KMPDU officials for contempt of court.
This comes after talks between the Government and KMPDU officials hit a snag with each side accusing the other of insincerity. However, the Government through the Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Cleopa Mailu said it has given doctors an offer it said it can afford but doctors wanted the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which was declared null and void by the same labour court fulfilled.
Doctors are demanding full implementation of the CBA they signed with the government in 2013.
The KMPDU officials led by Samuel Oroko Oregi, Titus Ondoro, Allan Ochanji, Fredrick Ouma Oluga, Hamisi Mwachonda Chibanzi, Daisy Korir and Evelyne Chege had gone to court to know their fate after the judge threatened to jail them for contempt of court.
By mygov.co.ke