Court frees jailed doctors’ leaders

Kenya’s Court of Appeal on Wednesday ordered the release from jail of officials from the national doctors’ union so they can negotiate with the government over a strike that has paralyzed the public health sector. The strike has angered Kenyans and turned into a test of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership ahead of an election in […]

Kenya’s Court of Appeal on Wednesday ordered the release from jail of officials from the national doctors’ union so they can negotiate with the government over a strike that has paralyzed the public health sector.
The strike has angered Kenyans and turned into a test of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership ahead of an election in August.
 The union, which has about 5,000 members, wants the government to implement a deal agreed in 2013 to give doctors a 150 to 180 percent pay rise on basic salaries, review working conditions, job structures and criteria for promotions and address under-staffing in state hospitals.
The seven union officials were ordered to serve a one-month jail term on Monday after a lower court found them guilty of contempt of court in relation to the strike which started in December.