Dr Ouma Oluga, the Secretary General Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU)/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 10 – A Nairobi court has ordered the police to arrest officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) for skipping sentencing, after they were found guilty of contempt.
Justice Helen Wasilwa of the Employment and Labour Relations Court directed the officer in charge of Kilimani Police Station to effect the arrest warrants.
The union officials were required to appear in court Tuesday for sentencing, after the court found them guilty of defying a court order barring them from going on strike.
Justice Wasilwa ruled that the court had no option other than to issue the arrest warrants.
“The court cannot do anything else if the officials refuse to appear in court when required to,” she ruled.
As the court was issuing the order, the doctors vowed to continue with their strike.
On Monday, the Council of Governors directed the doctors to resume duty by Wednesday or face the sack.
But Nairobi KMPDU Branch Secretary General Kiaguria Thuranira says the threats have given them fresh impetus and they will not be cowed.
“The only way we will go back to work is if the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2013 is implemented.”
The doctors said even if their current officials are arrested, other leaders will come up to lead doctors.
About The Author
