It was a reprieve for doctors after the Employment and Labour Relations Court suspended their Jail sentence for a further seven days.
Justice Hellen Wasilwa yet again postponed the Doctors Jail Sentence and directed Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and other parties to lead talks with a view of ending the doctor’s strike.
The Judge directed Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labor, Salaries and Remuneration Commission, Federation of Kenya Employers, Council Of governors, KMPDU officials and Attorney General to be part of the talks to resolve the doctor’s strike.
The intervention I am seeing today is a very welcome intervention. I believe there could be other interventions that could really resolve this problem which have not yet come. The duty of this court is in the long run to find a solution to the problem,” she ruled.
She gave all the parties seven days to hold the talks and come up with amicable solutions. COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli expected to chair the meeting.
“I know that the image of the court is also at stake and the court cannot be taken for granted forever, it must ultimately put its word and stand firmly in its feet and finish off this case because a case must come to an end,” she ruled.
She urged the parties not to take the court for granted and said if there will be no solution by February 13 the court will make its statement.
KNCHR and COTU urged the court to admit them as friends of the court so as to offer mediation on behalf of the Mwananchi.
“I will directly get involved in the matter and try my level best with the leadership of doctors union to find a solution with seven days. As a senior citizen, I just beg to be heard and intervene on behalf of the Kenyan workers,” said Atwoli in court.
The doctors have however maintained that they will not go back to work until the CBA 2013 is implemented.
