[PHOTO/nation.co.ke]
A court has extended orders to block the Government from recruiting 1,400 doctors from Tanzania.An order by the Employment and Labour Relations Court was issued at the same time that President John Magufuli’s government redeployed some 258 of the doctors who were to come to Kenya.
Media reports in Tanzania intimate that Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu announced that her Government had decided to employ locally all those who qualified for the Kenyan jobs.
At the same time, Kenya's Public Service Commission told a Nairobi court that no employer can be blocked from any hiring foreign manpower whenever need arises.
In a reply filed by Employment and Labour Relations Court judge Nelson Abuodha, it emerged that there weren’t enough doctors in Kenya and so the need to get more manpower from the neighbouring country.
“The court cannot compel the Government to employ staff since employment in the public service is dependent upon availability of vacancies and availability of funds,” PSC Chief Executive Officer Alice Otawa replied.
“The third respondent is also not aware of 1,400 medical practitioners or dentists who have been denied employment,” it read.
The issue appeared in court after a group of local doctors sought legal redress, accusing the government of being unfair to Kenyans who have no jobs.
“The applicants contend the decision to employ foreign practitioners while disregarding qualified skills from the local market is in violation of the constitution and the laws of Kenya,” read in part the petition filed by five doctors: Kahindi Teddy, Lilian Nyambeki, Victor Muia, Yunus Mohamed and Aldrin Flavian.
Justice Abuodha extended these orders till June 5 when the case will next be mentioned.