Knut ordered to appear in court to resolve strike

A court has summoned teachers’ union officials to appear before it on Friday to resolve the strike.

However a separate court allowed striking trainee doctors to institute contempt of court proceedings against the Medical Services minister, if he sacks them.

Mr Justice George Odunga on Tuesday ordered that the Kenya National Union of Teachers and its official David Okuta be served in person or through a newspaper to appear in court to enable the court find a solution to the teachers strike.

The court turned to paid advertisement after it was informed by the petitioning parents that Knut and its officials were evading attempts to be served with court orders.

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers and the Teachers’ Service Commission, both named as respondents in the case appeared during Tuesday’s proceeding. (READ: Union denies violating court order)

The judge said the Constitution allows for alternative dispute resolution mechanism and that the court would use its powers to encourage such forms of alternative dispute resolution in solving the teachers’ dispute.

However Kuppet lawyer Alexander Jaoko expressed little faith in the chances of meaningful reconciliation.

Public schools will also remain closed for the eighth day after Parliament on Tuesday failed to unlock the stalemate between the Government and teachers’ unions.

Instead, House committee on education directed that the dispute be handled by Delegated Legislation Committee without indicating how long it should take to resolve the matter.

The Parliamentary committee also recommended that cases of the striking teachers who have been arrested be terminated immediately and that no disciplinary action be taken against the teachers.

Meanwhile, Universities Academic Staff Union secretary general Muga K’Olale termed the Government’s offer on Friday as “a mockery to the negotiations.” But the government said the offer was only a start to the negotiations. (READ: Tutors reject offer to raise pay by Sh200)

Committee chairman David Koech however directed that the lecturers and the Government go back to the negotiations and find a solution.

Elsewhere striking Medics have been allowed to institute contempt of court proceedings against Prof Anyang Nyong’o if he sacks them. (READ: Doctors to strike as wage unrest widens)

Through Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPPDU), the medics had obtained a court order on August 30, stopping their sacking until a case filed in court had been heard and determined.

The orders were also obtained against the, Kenyatta National Hospital chief executive Richard Lesiyampe, the Mathare Mental Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Kisuvuli and Attorney General Githu Muigai, who are the respondents in the case.

In a press advertisement on local dailies on September 5, the minister indicated that he had withdrawn the services of all the Registrars in KNH and had given them a month notice to vacate all KNH facilities.

Reported by Leonard Mutinda, Abiud Ochieng’, Mike Mwaniki and Benjamin Muindi