A critical court ruling has emerged in the ongoing dispute between Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) and the Kenya National Union of Nurses (K.N.U.N.), as the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Eldoret issued a restraining order against the union. This follows the union’s recent move towards a possible strike action.
On March 20, 2025, Honourable Lady Justice Maureen Onyango presided over the matter, which was brought to court through a Notice of Motion filed by MTRH on March 19, 2025. The application, deemed urgent by the court, seeks to prevent the Kenya National Union of Nurses from initiating a strike or withdrawing labor, which could severely disrupt hospital operations.
The court, after considering the urgency of the application, issued the following orders:
- The application was certified as urgent, and the case was set for an inter partes hearing on April 2, 2025.
- Pending the hearing, the union, its agents, representatives, or any party acting on its behalf, is prohibited from calling or participating in any strike action or withdrawing labor.
- Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital was directed to serve the restraining orders to the union immediately.
- The Kenya National Union of Nurses has been given seven days to file a response to the application.
The ruling comes amid rising tensions between the hospital management and the union, which represents nurses at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. The union had earlier threatened to strike over unresolved labor issues, including staffing concerns, wages, and working conditions. However, the court’s decision seeks to maintain industrial peace and prevent further escalation of the dispute before the next hearing.
The court also issued a penal notice, warning that any disobedience or failure to adhere to the court’s order would result in legal consequences for the parties involved.
This ruling is expected to bring some temporary relief to hospital management and patients, as it ensures the continuity of services at MTRH while the legal process unfolds. Both parties will be closely monitoring developments ahead of the April 2 hearing.
The case is being followed closely by labor unions, health sector stakeholders, and the general public, as it highlights the ongoing challenges in Kenya’s healthcare sector regarding labor disputes and industrial relations.
0 $type={facebook}:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.