Speaking at Aberdare County Club in Kieni on Wednesday, former premier faulted the Jubilee Administration for what he said was failure by the President to deal with corruption which he said was crippling the nation/JOHN GATHUA
NYERI, Kenya, Dec 7 – CORD Principal Raila Odinga and Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi have criticized the government for dishing out millions of shillings in Harambees despite what the duo termed as failure by the Jubilee Administration to address the on-going strike by the doctors.
Speaking at Aberdare County Club in Kieni on Wednesday, former premier faulted the Jubilee Administration for what he said was failure by the President to deal with corruption which he said was crippling the nation.
“The President and the Deputy President each month contribute money in Harambees yet that money is not available to pay doctors,” he said adding that the country’s leadership should prioritize matters health.
According to Odinga, the failure by the government to deal decisively with graft has led to what he called runaway corruption that has seriously impacted the delivery of services to members of the public by public institutions.
“This kind of situation should never have been allowed to develop,” he said. “It is something that could have been arrested a long time ago. The doctors say they have been waiting since 2013 yet the government seems to be reacting to a situation which was preventable.”
ANC leader Mudavadi also made similar statements urging the government to honour the 300 per cent salary increment stipulated in a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed with the doctors.
“The government must also learn to honour its commitment,” he said. “In this particular situation doctors had entered into an agreement.”
“What is shocking is if you had agreed and it was a CBA, why have you taken too long to implement this agreement until we reach a crisis situation?” he posed.
The two spent the night at Aberdare Country Club strategizing on the structures to form a new political movement to be unveiled by February next year which they intend to use in their bid to ascend to power.
The strike by the doctors entered its third day Wednesday as an agreement between the Ministry of Health and striking doctors is yet to be reached.
Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Cleopa Mailu however assured the nation that the government will continue to engage the union officials to find a solution after talks with the medics aborted Tuesday.
About The Author
