The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Kenya has given the government and striking doctors 48 hours to finalise a return-to-work formula and end the nationwide doctors’ strike.
Failure to comply with this order, issued Monday by Justice Byram Ongaya, will prompt the court to hear petitions and decide on the dispute.
This ultimatum comes after the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) dismissed reports of reaching an agreement with the government to end the 53-day-long strike.
A six-hour closed-door meeting last Friday between government officials and KMPDU resulted in a stalemate, with accusations of dishonesty from the doctors’ side leading to the breakdown.
Although an expected return-to-work formula was not reached and deposited in court as anticipated on Monday at 9.30 am, Justice Ongaya’s warning now sets a clear deadline for resolution.
The Labour court’s directive applies to parties involved in the dispute, including Kenyatta National Hospital vs KMPDU and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), among others.
Justice Ongaya stressed that failing to establish a return-to-work formula would lead to the court making the decision based on submissions from both sides by noon on May 8, 2024.
KMPDU Chair Abidan Mwachi, speaking after the court‘s order, expressed the union’s willingness to comply and return to negotiations in order to resolve the issue.
