President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered nurses across the country to immediately stop their strike and return to work.
In his address, after a meeting with governors at State House, the Head of State told health workers that they have until Friday 8AM to return to work.
He termed the strike as unlawful and ordered the county government and Health Ministry to sack any nurse who fails to turn up to work on Friday.
“As the Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, I have instructed National Police Service to take stern action on picketers who may intimidate public servants who intend to go to work. Any nurse who fails to report to work as directed above will be dismissed,” he cautioned.
President Kenyatta: It is disheartening to hear officials of the nursing union declare that they will not obey court orders
One of the most important principles our republic has established is the rule of law and no one is above the law! pic.twitter.com/I3PFiWqGGy— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 13, 2019
Uhuru also accused the striking nurses of disobeying court orders saying it is a requirement of all Kenyans no matter their place in society to abide by the rule of law.
The respective County Governments will therefore be at liberty to undertake any action, as they deem appropriate, against personnel who fail to resume duty as directed by the Employment and Labour Relations Court. pic.twitter.com/PStSboHWRk
— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) February 13, 2019
Health services have been paralysed countrywide since nurses downed their tools on February 4, 2019 over a return-to-work formula entered on November 2, 2017. The nurses say it has not been fully implemented.