KU ordered to pay 12 doctors Sh41million as Covid-19 emergency and risk allowances
The Employment and Labour Relations Court judge Monica Mbaru has ordered the Kenyatta University to compensate twelve doctors Sh41million as emergency and risk allowances for work done during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The doctors demanding compensation were working at the university’s health facility.
The court cited the institution for violating their rights.
“The claimants being doctors placed at a public hospital are entitled to risk and emergency call allowances. Allowing the university to continue holding the allowances is to entrench a culture of impunity in public service which amounts to unfair labour practice.” Justice Mbaru ruled.
The court established that the university had not paid them emergency call allowances, extraneous allowances, risk allowances and non-practice allowances since 2017.
“The total dues of Sh41,190,000 owed to the 12 doctors must be paid within 30 days from this judgment failure to which the same will start attracting interest at 12% until paid in full,” ruled the judge.
The 12 doctors who moved to court are Joseph Muturi, Kevin Mugambi, Edwin Mwathi, George Karanja, Thomas Bundotich and Gabriel Kamau.
Others are Joyce Mbogo, Monisara Waitherero, Bilha Kiama, Harbaksh Singh, Martin Waweru and Dr Anthony Njuguna.
Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Bhimji welcomed the ruling and said the allowances were part of the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
“This is actually a win for the Union and these doctors because this is a clear indication that even what we had discussed…these are some of the things we were demanding in that CBA,” Davji said.
“It means that once a CBA has been agreed upon by the employer and employees, there is no way that the employee can decide to go back and decide not to pay the allowances that have been agreed upon.”
