Lead image for Court halts nationwide nurses' strike, orders immediate return to work.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Mombasa has suspended the nationwide nurses' strike and ordered union members to resume work immediately pending the hearing and determination of the dispute.
The ruling is expected to restore healthcare services disrupted across public hospitals.
Justice Monica Mbaru certified as urgent a case challenging the legality of the industrial action and issued interim orders directing the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) to instruct its members employed by Mombasa County and the other 46 county governments to return to work immediately to avert further suffering and possible loss of life.
However, nurses in several counties boycotted the order, insisting they would only resume duty after receiving instructions from the union's national office.
"In the interim, the respondent is hereby restrained from undertaking any industrial action relating to the strike notices dated July 21 and July 29, and shall direct all its members in the employment of the claimant and interested parties to resume duty forthwith and unconditionally to allow the court to address the claim herein on a priority basis," Justice Mbaru ruled in orders dated August 3.
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The judge directed County Labour Officers in all 47 counties to record the attendance of nurses who report back to work and file compliance reports in court on September 22.
She further warned that any KNUN member who remains absent from duty without lawful cause would be liable to disciplinary action.