Industrial Court extends order stopping health workers' strike
An empty ward at the Kisumu East District Hospital after patients were sent packing as striking medical staff stayed away on December 13, 2013. Photo/JACOB OWITI
What you need to know:
Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia had sought a court order to end the strike.
The strike, which entered its sixth day Monday, has paralysed medical services across the country, leaving patients in great anguish.
The Industrial Court on Monday extended orders stopping the strike by health workers to December 24 when the case comes up for hearing.
Last Wednesday, Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia sought a court order to end the strike, which he termed unconstitutional and contrary to the Labour Relations Act, which prohibits essential services staff from boycotting work.
The strike, which entered its sixth day Monday, has paralysed medical services across the country, leaving patients in great anguish.
The health workers downed their tools last Tuesday after talks with governors and government officials broke down.
The workers are protesting against devolution of health services without an enabling legislation while governors want the devolution of the services to remain at the grassroots.
On Sunday, Sultani Matendechero, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union secretary-general, maintained the strike was on, adding that the government had not engaged the workers, and insisting health workers will not be intimidated by the government's move to hire unlicensed people.
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