Union officials jailed over hospitals strike

A Kenyan court today (Monday) jailed seven union officials for a month over a doctors strike that has crippled public hospitals for 10 weeks. Judge Hellen Wasilwa at Kenya’s Labour Court had handed down suspended sentences to the officials a month ago after they ignored an earlier court order to end the strike. Jailing them for contempt of court, the judge said they had provided no reason for the punishment to be deferred. 'The applicants have not demonstrated to court any new and compelling issue, or pointed out any mistake or error apparent on the record, or any sufficient cause that would warrant review of the court’s order,' Wasilwa said. A report on The Guardian site notes that the nationwide strike involving thousands of doctors and nurses began on 5 December and has left public hospitals closed and patients unable to get basic medical care.