Business Daily
Date: 08.12.2016
Page 2
Article size: 262 cm2
ColumnCM: 58.22
AVE: 110622.22
Striking medics play
hardball after arrest
order against officials
? industrial UNREST Governors say doctors have
contravened the law by proceeding with boycott
BY STELLAR MURUMBA
conciliation, before calling the strike,
Striking medics hardened their positions
tions Act.
a requirement under the Labour Rela­
yesterday after it emerged that the govern­
The CoG has also challenged the doc­
ment had obtained a court order for the
tors' strike, saying it was never involved
in the 2013 collective bargaining agree­
arrest of union officials.
Employment and Labour Court Judge
Hellen Wasilwa yesterday directed the
OCS Kilimani police station to have the
ment (CBA).
The governors say as a key stakeholder
striking health workers' union officials
in county government affairs, it ought to
have been involved in the CBA negotiations
arrested and presented in court over the
which the doctors want implemented, as it
industrial unrest.
relates to employees of counties.
This follows court orders issued last
"No one is above the law. It is essential
week temporarily suspending their strike
pendingthe hearing of an ap­
that court orders are obeyed for mainte­
nance of good order and the
plication filed by the Council
of Governors (CoG).
The Kenya Medical
Practitioners and Dentists
Union chairman, Samuel
Oroko saidthey are no long­
er negotiating with govern­
ment until the court order is
dignity of the court," CoG
No one is above
the law. It is
essential that court
orders are obeyed
COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS
withdrawn.
lawyers said yesterday. The
application will be heard on
December 13.
As the health crisis contin­
ues to bite, close to 20 patients
are reported to have died coun­
trywide as of yesterday.
More than 150 cancer pa­
"We have information that the govern­
tients who attend chemotherapy sessions
ment wants to arrest the union officials.
We have declared that we are not going
every Wednesdays and Fridays at the Keny­
atta National Hospital were also locked out
to negotiate further until they withdraw
the court order," said Dr Oroko.
hope for successful treatment.
of the facility yesterday, dampening their
He said the government has been ne­
President Uhum Kenyatta yesterday
gotiating in bad faith and taking them in
commented on the matter for the first
circles "hence the strike continues".
time asking the health workers to end
The officials, however, risk a six­month
civil jail term for allegedly failing to comply
their strike and give room to dialogue to
resolve their grievances.
with the court orderthathad been issued
"Let us be human andbe mindful ofthe
in an urgent applicationfiledby the CoG,
lives of the patients. I am confident that
which argued that the strike is illegal.
we will find a solution to the problem,"
In its application, CoG argues that the
nurses' union, for instance, had not at­
said Mr Kenyatta during his Makueni
tempted nor registered any dispute for
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