Doctors in private clinics and hospitals have made a joint resolution to go on strike for 48 hours in support of the jailed officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) had asked all health professionals affiliated to it to withdraw services in protest to the jailing of the seven doctors’ union officials. The directive is expected to affect at least 1,500 private and mission hospitals across the country which serves 45 per cent of Kenyans.

The seven KMPDU officials namely; Samuel Oroko, Ouma Oluga, Daisy Korir, Evelyne Chege, Allan Ochanji, Mwachonda Chibandzi and Titus Ondoro were jailed on Monday this week for contempt of court. http://www.kenyaforum.net/2017/02/13/doctors-union-officials-jailed/

KMA also announced that it had revoked Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu and his Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri’s membership to the association for one year.

According to KMA Chairperson Jackline Kitulu, the decision was arrived at due to the manner the two handled the over two month’s strike “which has disgraced the profession”.

Doctors have also filed a case against the jailing of their 7 Union officials at the court of appeal. The case will be heard today.

The countrywide doctors’ strike is now in the third month and has paralysed healthcare in public hospitals. Public pressure has been mounting on the government to bring the impasse to an end with a section of lawyers condemning the way the industrial court handled the case saying the “contempt of court order was in bad faith.”

“The CBA executed by Ministry of health and Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists union on 27th June 2013, was to be Registered (90 )days after the Judgement issued on 6th October 2016 by Justice M. Mbaru .

The judgement further reiterated that no party shall act to frustrate the union pursuant to the orders issued.

A Judge of concurrent Jurisdiction purportedly held that the same CBA is unenforceable and proceeded to hold the officials in contempt of Court.

The return to work formula leading to the above CBA was signed on 12th December 2011, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, now President of Kenya.

We have a bad culture of dishonoring political agreements.

The Contempt of Court Order is in bad faith and in complete ignorance of all the previous agreements,” lawyer Mutula Kilonzo posted on Facebook.