In light of the current ongoing Nurses strike in Kenya, police have been ordered to protect nurses who will resume duties on Friday, 15th February.
Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet said police have been instructed to ensure services go on undisturbed at affected health facilities.“All the concerned commanders have been instructed to ensure that those nurses who wish to resume duty do so undisturbed,” he said on Thursday.He added adequate security will be provided around public hospitals and that anyone acting in breach of the Public Order Act will be dealt with firmly.
This follows an order by President Uhuru Kenyatta that the striking nurses report back Friday failure to which respective county governments and the Ministry of Health shall dismiss them.
Kenyatta, who spoke Wednesday morning following a meeting with Council of Governors (CoG) representatives led by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, termed the strike illegal since it violates an order by the Employment and Labour Relations Court suspending the industrial action for 60 days.
“One of the most important principles upon which our republic is established is the rule of law – no one is above the law. Obeying court orders is not optional but a requirement to all of us,” Kenyatta said while directing nurses to resume duty by 8 am Friday.
He warned the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) against intimidating health workers willing to resume duty directing the police to take decisive action against protesters obstructing those willing to work.
“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, I have instructed the National Police Service to take decisive action against those picketers who may intimidate or otherwise harass public servants who intend to go to work,” President Kenyatta ordered.