Lauryne Akoth
The Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kithure Kindiki has declared the ongoing Doctors’ Strike illegal.
Doctors today took to the street from Kenyatta National Hospital to the treasury citing the government’s failure to meet their demands as per the 2017 CBA agreement.
In a statement dated 9th April 2024, Kindiki noted that Doctors have defied court orders issued by the Employment and Labour Relations Court on 3rd April 2024.
As per the statement, Kindiki noted that the Doctors on strike have also resorted to threatening and intimidating health workers who opted not to participate in the ongoing demonstrations.
“The participants in the unlawful industrial action have repeatedly threatened to disrupt service delivery in health institutions, to interfere with the daily activities of the non-participating health workers, and to undermine public order generally.” Read the statement in part.
The CS declared the ongoing industrial action illegal citing it undermines the constitutional order of the country. He urged all law enforcement agencies to employ all lawful means and resources available to prevent any disruption of services and protect practitioners who have resumed their duties as ordered by the court.
” Law enforcement agencies are directed to ensure strict maintenance of law and order to protect the general public and the health workers who have chosen to obey the court order by providing services pending the resolution of the labour dispute.” Concluded the statement.
Despite his directives, Doctors have continued to hold their demonstrations unperturbed affirming they shall not be intimidated.
