Court Bars Nurses’ Strike at Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital Pending Hearing
In the interim order, Justice Onyango directed KNUN and its representatives to refrain from inciting, calling for, or participating in any strike or withdrawal of labour until the matter is heard
The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Eldoret has issued an order restraining the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) from calling for a strike at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) pending the hearing of an urgent application filed by the hospital.
The case, ELRCPET/E006/2025, was brought before Hon. Lady Justice Maureen Onyango on March 20, 2025, following an application by MTRH seeking to prevent industrial action by the nurses’ union. The court certified the matter as urgent and scheduled an inter partes hearing for April 2, 2025.
In the interim order, Justice Onyango directed KNUN and its representatives to refrain from inciting, calling for, or participating in any strike or withdrawal of labour until the matter is heard. The court further ordered that KNUN be served immediately with the application and required to file a response within seven days.
The ruling comes amid ongoing disputes between healthcare workers and management over employment terms, with KNUN having previously hinted at industrial action.
Legal experts say the court’s decision underscores the judiciary’s role in balancing labour rights with essential service delivery. Failure to comply with the order may result in legal consequences, as outlined in the penal notice attached to the ruling.
The case will now proceed to the inter partes hearing on April 2, 2025, where both parties will present their arguments before the court determines the way forward.
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