This archive report was first published on 21 May 2020.
On May 21, 2020, the High Court certified an application by the Kenya Association of Health Administrators as urgent, seeking to suspend the payment of COVID-19 medical allowances and benefits for frontline health workers.
Justice J. Makau directed the parties to file and serve their submissions and responses by May 29, 2020, when the matter will be heard.
The association moved to court, accusing the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) of omitting them from the COVID-19 medical allowance without explanation, despite being on duty in hospitals and critical essential services providers.
"This court do issue conservatory orders temporarily restraining the Ministry of Health from implementing SRC's directive communicated vide a letter dated April 28, or making the payment of the COVID-19 medical emergency allowance and benefits for frontline health workers in national and county government," states the association.
The petitioners argue that they were unjustifiably omitted from the list of beneficiaries as proposed by SRC, yet they oversee the smooth running of hospital operations and supervise other beneficiaries.
The respondents in the matter are SRC, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and the Attorney General, while the Kenya Health Professionals Society and the Council of Governors have been named as interested parties.
