The government has resolved to drop its threats on firing striking nurses who defied a return-to-work order and instituted a conciliatory team to help end the two-week-old strike.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattany however, appeared to advocate for dialogue in resolving the issues affecting the medical practitioners that have seen them out of hospitals since 4th February.
The CS further appealed to the nurses to go back to work adding that the public is the one bearing the effects of the strike.
“My appeal to all stakeholders is to obey rule of law. We appeal to them to reconsider their position and go back to work”, he said.
Yattany said the conciliatory team set up to resolve the strike had made good progress adding they will be meeting the Salaries and Remuneration Commission on Friday, February 15.
He also said all health stakeholders will meet at the Ministry of Health on Saturday, February 16, as part of efforts to end the standoff that has caused pain to the public who cannot access medical attention.
The findings from the Saturday meeting, Mr. Yattany said, will be reviewed next week and will be presented in court on Monday.
On Wednesday President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered striking nurses to return to work by 8 am Friday (Feb 15), or be fired by their county employers.
The Employment and Labor Relations Court also suspended the nurses’ strike for a period of 60 days ordering the warring parties to attend conciliation talks initiated by CS Yattani.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako adding that they will fight for their rights no matter the challenges.
“The strike is a right and properly in place, we shall give them directions,” said Panyako.