Kenyatta stated that nurses who fail to report to work by then will be dismissed by county governments and the Ministry of Health.
Health services in at least ten counties have been paralyzed following the ongoing nurses’ strike over delayed allowances, which started last week.
While addressing the nation from State House Nairobi, Kenyatta said he has instructed the National Police Service to take stern action against picketers who may intimidate or otherwise harass the public servants who intend to go to work.
“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, I have instructed the National Police Service to take stern action against those picketers who may intimidate or otherwise harass the public servants who intend to go to work,” he said.
Kenyatta said unlawful industrial actions will not be allowed to derail the country from moving forward.
He stated that while our Constitution and various labour laws grant the right to picket and participate in strikes, they also provide for the process of determining public service remuneration by the Salaries Remuneration Commission whose advice has equally been disregarded.
“It is therefore greatly disheartening to learn that that some of our nurses have decided to engage in unlawful withdrawal of their labour against the determination of the Employment and Labour Relations Court, which suspended any industrial action for sixty days pending conciliation meetings between the County Governments, Ministry of Health and the Nurses’ Union.
“Moreover, it is disheartening to hear officials of the Nurses Union declare that they will not obey these Court Orders,” he added.