NAIROBI, Kenya Apr 9 — Azimio La Umoja One Kenya has threatened to join the ongoing doctors’ strike led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacist and Dentists Union (KMPDU) if the government fails to address their grievances.
The Opposition Coalition expressed concerns that the doctors’ strike that has persisted for 27 days with no end in sight has disrupted healthcare services leaving patients in agony.
”We demand that the government and all relevant parties immediately engage in meaningful and transparent dialogue with the striking doctors to find a long-term solution to the ongoing crisis,” the coalition stated.
The Raila Odinga-led coalition scoffed at President William Ruto’s remarks where he told off salary increment demands for interns, saying the country is struggling with a huge wage bill and cannot accommodate enhanced stipends for interns.
The Coalition said the government has shown inadequacy in addressing the welfare of Kenyans.
“The ”WON’T PAY; CAN’T PAY” parody that broke the extended silence speaks volumes about the regime’s regard for our healthcare workers,” the Coalition stated on Tuesday.
The Azimio La Umoja Coalition demanded for dialogue between the government and the medics to end the strike noting it was endangering the population’s health and and effectiveness of the country’s healthcare system.
“We demand that the government and all relevant parties immediately engage in meaningful and transparent dialogue with the striking doctors to find a long-term solution to the ongoing crisis,” read the statement.
The Opposition Coalition told President Ruto to shelve the reintroduction of the Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) into the Public Service and adopt a zero-based budgeting approach if indeed the government focused on austerity measures.
Azimio also implored the President to fully support the implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) recommendations which include slashing the travel budget by fifty percent.
“It is well documented and on show for all Kenyans to see Kenya Kwanza’s hunger for conspicuous consumption. Their mantra appears to be: ME FIRST; KENYANS LATER,” read the statement.
Public hospital doctors rejected a government offer aimed at ending a weeks-long strike that has severely disrupted health services.
KMPDU representing more than 7,000 members, went on strike on March 15 to demand the immediate hiring of trainee doctors, among other grievances.
The strike has left patients struggling to access care from expensive private hospitals, leading to worsening chronic illnesses and even deaths.
The Ministry of Health offered to retain interns on a stipend of Sh70,000 at an overall cost of Sh2.4 billion.
Afya House said the deployment of the current batch of medics will require Sh4.9 billion if interns earn Sh206,000 per month as demanded by KMPDU, a figure it termed unaffordable.
But, doctors maintain that they will remain out of office until the government heeds their pleas.
