Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has thrown his weight behind striking healthcare workers as they took to the streets on Tuesday, April 9, demanding the government meet their demands.
Addressing the media during the demonstrations, Babu expressed his solidarity with the striking workers criticizing President William Ruto’s statement regarding the lack of funds to meet the health workers’ demands.
“Yesterday, I heard Ruto saying he doesn’t have money for doctors. We are telling doctors because you have taken to the streets, continue… because you cannot tell us you don’t have money while wearing a watch worth Ksh10 million. Sell that watch and pay the doctors,” Babu said.
“The Bible says that if a son asks for bread, do you give him a stone? If your son asks for fish, do you give him a snake? So, your sons, the doctors, have asked; give them money. Kenya has money, you increased taxes, you are getting a lot of money now, you also took loans, please give them money.”
Babu Owino emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the potential consequences of delayed action on citizens.
“President Ruto must move with speed and pay doctors to prevent deaths occurring in hospitals due to lack of medical care for ailing Kenyans,” he also wrote on his X account.
“Pay the doctors so that our people do not die… as the President, stop everything you are doing and pay the doctors.”
Doctors strike
The threat comes amidst the nationwide strike initiated by the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) on March 14, 2024, which has now entered its 26th day.
Led by Secretary-General Davji Atellah, a section of doctors took to the streets on Tuesday, April 9 in demonstrations, bringing traffic to a standstill around Afya House as they held placards advocating for their rights and improved healthcare standards.
“KMPDU extends a nationwide invitation to all doctors, medical interns, and medical students to join us in peaceful demonstrations on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Let’s unite our voices to advocate for the rights of doctors and strive for improved healthcare standards for Kenyans,” KMPDU stated.
The strike was initiated to compel the government to honour the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2017 and address various other grievances, including the delayed posting of interns, fair remuneration of interns, postgraduate training, employment of more doctors, and comprehensive health coverage for medics.
Despite ongoing negotiations, the government has cited financial constraints as the reason for its inability to meet the demands of the striking healthcare workers.
Police presence at the demonstrations was reportedly heightened, acting on orders from Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki to maintain order and prevent any potential disturbances.
Ruto on doctors’ strike
Speaking for the first time on the ongoing strike on Sunday, April 7, Ruto noted the urgency of addressing Kenya’s financial constraints, pointing out that the government currently allocates 47 per cent of its revenue to salaries, significantly exceeding the recommended 35 per cent.
“Our wage bill is 47 per cent of our revenue. It should be 35 per cent according to the law. So we are way above. We need a conversation so that those of us who earn salaries are responsible. And we can reduce our wage bill so that we can free more resources to create jobs for our young people.”
Addressing congregants during a Sunday service at Eldoret AIC Fellowship church, Ruto stressed on the need to live within the country’s means and urged for responsible spending.
The Head of State acknowledged the concerns brought forth by medical practitioners but emphasized the necessity of living within the country’s means.
Despite negotiations between the Ministry of Health and the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), the strike initiated by KUCO remains ongoing, with George Gibore, the union’s secretary-general, affirming their commitment to finding a lasting solution.
Ruto appealed to medical professionals to consider the financial constraints, suggesting that the Ksh70,000 stipend offered to interns should suffice as it is not a permanent salary.
He acknowledged the importance of their service but reiterated the need to work within the available resources.
“We mind them (doctors), we value the service they give to the nation, but we must live within our means. The resources we have are only sufficient to pay Ksh70,000 for intern doctors. It is not a salary, it is only a stipend for one year then they will be employed,” he said.
The medical practitioners, however, continue to advocate for increased funding for the healthcare sector, calling for the implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), fair treatment for doctors on short-term contracts, and improvements in working conditions.
