Doctors’ case back at the Court of Appeal

By KBC Reporters

A mediation team that seeks to resolve the ongoing doctors’ strike is currently at the Court of Appeal to present its final report.

The arbitration led by the inter-religious council has seen an agreement reached on various contentious issues except the modalities of signing of three documents.

The latest development comes in the wake of a hard-line stance by the government reiterating its position that it is not ready to negotiate with the striking doctors until they go back to work.

A series of closed-door meetings had seen doctors’ union officials agree on various contentious issues with the appellate court extending the deadline for the submission of a final report on the ongoing mediation process until today (Monday).

But the back and forth between the union and the mediation team so the government join the doctors employer, the council of governors, in demanding that doctors return  back to their work stations before any negotiations continue.

State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu Sunday said that the government will not negotiate with the striking doctors until they go back to work.

Court of Appeal judges Hannah Okwengu, Martha Koome and Sankale Ole Kantai last week directed that the matter be mentioned on Monday with a view of recording a settlement.

The talks recorded progress through a settlement agreement reached on the contentious issues except the modalities of signing of three documents.

Some Counties have already started effecting the directive to fire doctors who have not resumed work.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union KMPDU has however dared county and national governments to sack the striking doctors saying that no amount of intimidation will stop them from pushing for their rights.