COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has intervened in the ongoing doctors’ strike, earning a seven-day reprieve from the court. The COTU Secretary General urged the court to give the union officials more time to negotiate with the government, talks that he himself will be included. “I want to ask and assure Kenyans that we will try all we can and end this stalemate,” said Francis Atwoli.
A similar plea was made by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, who said they’ve been in talks with the medical practitioners, adding that they should be given more time because sentencing will only interfere with ongoing negotiations.
While making her ruling, Judge Hellen Wasilwa, however, raised concerns over the last minute appearance of COTU and KNCHR after the court had already made its ruling only waiting to be read. She, however, decided to give them more time and asked that the Council of Governors, Attorney General’s office, KMPDU, Ministries of Finance and Labour, Salaries and Renumeration Commission be involved in the talks, together with KNCHR and COTU’s Francis Atwoli.
“The duty of the court is to find a solution to the problem,” Judge Hellen Wasilwa assured Kenyans, as she directed the negotiating parties to present a report to her by Monday 13th February when she would give her ruling.