BY SAM ALFAN.
Doctors can breathe a sigh of relief for now following a court decision giving them an allowance of five more days, however poor Kenyans continue to feel the blunt.
The court suspended the sentencing of Doctors Union leaders to give time for further negotiations to end the strike.
Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge Hellen Wasilwa on Thursday also ordered the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union to continue talks with the government.
“I will take time and review the orders and I will suspend the orders for [the period] which will expire on January 31,” said Wasilwa.
The development came as the strike entered its 53rd day, with patients from poor backgrounds bearing the brunt of the crisis.
The doctors are demanding full implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) they signed with the government in 2013.
KMPDU officials had appeared before Judge Wasilwa to give an update of the ongoing negotiations on increased pay talks with the Health ministry.
The union has filed an application seeking to extend the negotiations period, arguing that they are looking forward to an amicably settlement.
Samuel Oroko Oregi, Titus Ondoro, Allan Ochanji, Fredrick Ouma Oluga, Hamisi Mwachonda Chibanzi, Daisy Korir and Evelyne Chege also wanted to know their fate after the judge threatened to arrest and lock them up for violating orders of the court.
