Kenya - Exclusion of nurses from the right to form a union (2013)

The Kenya National Union of Nurses won a case against the Permanent Secretary for Medical Services with the Industrial Court holding on the 28 December 2012 that nurses have both the right to join a union and the right to strike. Relevant ministries were instructed to meet and negotiate with the nurses and to reach a consensus within seven days. However, the Public Service Commission dismissed nurses who had participated in the strike in relation to the dispute, including for example those at Kakamega Provincial General Hospital. In February 2013, the Industrial Court issued another ruling on reinstatement and payment of pending salaries.