Labour Court halts doctors' strike pending inter-parties hearing

Source: Capital FM Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 14 - The Employment and Labour Relations Court has halted the doctors' strike pending an inter-parties hearing and agreement between Labour ministry and Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

The orders were issued by Justice Byram Ongaya in response to a certificate of urgency suit filed by James Kounah Advocates.

The Kenyatta National Hospital had moved to court seeking to bar doctors working at the hospital from going on strike.

The move follows the lapse of the 7-day strike notice, even as KMPDU remains defiant that the strike will go on as planned.

According to Justice Onyaya, this will create a favourable environment for negotiations and agreement on essential services to continue during a potential strike.

"Pending the return date or further orders by the Court and pending the determination and filing of the agreement on the minimum safety services mentioned in order 2 above, there shall be stay of the taking effect of the strike notice and going on strike of the union's members as notified in the strike notice," he ruled.

He also directed labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore to call a tripartite meeting by noon on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

The meeting will include representatives from the KMPDU, respondent officials, and public service employers listed in the union's strike notice.