Court releases jailed doctors’ union officials

Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union officials Ouma Oluga and Mwachond Chibanzi on February 13 when they were taken away to prison. (Photo: George Njunge/Standard)

The court of Appeal Wednesday ordered the release of seven medical doctors’s union officials who had on February 13 been sentenced to one month in jail.

The officials have been set free pending hearing and determination of the appeal against Justice Hellen Wasilwa's decision to jail them and parties are expected back in court on February 23.

Negotiations will resume immediately and a team from the Law Society of Kenya and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights will jointly lead the mediation efforts.

Doctors had moved to court to appeal against a decision by the Employment and Labour Relations Court to jail their union officials for contempt of court.

The appeal was argued by lawyers James Orengo and Philip Murgor, who had offered to lead the team of lawyers representing the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union officials.

Samuel Oroko, Fredrick Oluga, Titus Ondoro, Allan Ochanji, Hamisi Chibanzi, Daisy Korir and Evelyne Chege were jailed on Monday for disobeying a court order to call off the doctors' strike.