MOMBASA FEBRUARY 14, 2017 (CISA) – Private doctors in Mombasa have vowed to paralyse activities in private hospitals for 48 hours starting February 15 in solidarity with their jailed colleagues.
The consultant doctors are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of their colleagues who were yesterday February 13 sentenced to a one month jail imprisonment for contempt of court.
They also want senior officials at Afya house to resign or be sacked for failure to resolve the health crisis in the country.
They further called upon stakeholders at national and county government to address the health crisis, and said there will be no negotiations until the jailed doctors are released.
The Court sentenced the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials to one month in jail after they failed to reach an agreement and call off medics strike as directed.
Previously the Courts had suspended the Doctors’ union officials jail term and directed Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli, to lead negotiations to bring an end to the industrial action.
The meeting which included KMPDU officials, Council of Governors, the Treasury, Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and other Government organs hit a deadlock after the doctors refused another deal offered by the government arguing that it is not what they were bargaining for.
The doctors’ union officials insisted on the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Meanwhile the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) now wants to be enjoined in proceedings at the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the jailing of seven union leaders.
LSK President Isaac Okero said they want to facilitate resumption of dialogue as the sentencing of union leaders serves as an impediment to the negotiation process.
“The LSK shall be making an application to be enjoined in proceedings pending before the Court of Appeal as amicus curiae so that we are able to make presentations in court with a view to enable dialogue to resume,” Okero said during a press briefing on February 13.
