Nairobi, KENYA: The Kenyan Labour Court on Friday suspended the jail term Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union KMPDU officials could have received.
Justice Hellen Wasiliwa instead asked COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli to convene in an urgent meeting with the Attorney General, Council of Governors, Salaries and Remuneration Commission SRC , Federation of Kenya Employers FKE , Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Finance so as to reach an amicable solution .
Justice Wasilwa advised that at least 2 or 3 of the members of the parties mentioned should participate in the mediation to ensure a solution is reached within 7 days.
However, Justice Wasilwa noted with concern that interventions being brought by the Kenya Human Rights Commission and COTU were coming on board too late.
Mr. Atwoli had pleaded with the judge an extension of one week to come up with solutions surrounding the doctors’ strike that is in its second month.
” The court has suspended the jail sentence not out of cowardice but mercy. A solution must have been reached by February 13th, ” the judge sounded her stern warning.