Babu Owino To President Ruto: Sell Your Ksh.10M Watch And Pay Striking Doctors
Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino, has voiced his disapproval of President William Ruto’s recent statement, wherein Ruto asserted that the country is facing financial difficulties and, therefore unable to fulfill the demands of striking doctors.
President Ruto rebuked the striking doctors on Sunday regarding their requests for salary increases and interns’ allowances, stating that Kenya is currently grappling with a substantial wage expenditure.
In a swift response, Mr. Owino criticized the Head of State’s statement, highlighting his alleged display of wealth during the crisis.
The Member of Parliament, addressing a crowd in Homa Bay on Monday, advised the President to sell his costly timepieces and allocate the funds towards compensating the striking doctors.
“Jana niliskia Ruto akisema kuwa hana pesa ya madaktari. Tunaaambia madaktari kwa sababu mmeeka maandamano, iendeelee…kwa sababu huwezi kutuambia huna pesa na saa yenye unavaa ni ya Ksh.10 million. Uza hiyo saa ulipe madaktari,” said Mr. Owino.
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He additionally expressed the view that President Ruto’s policies have led to an escalation in the cost of living, consequently boosting revenue generation, which implies that the government shouldn’t encounter difficulties in funding doctors’ salaries.
“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 iko na pesa, ushuru uliongeza, saa hii unapata pesa nyingi, pia ulichukua deni, tafadhali wapatie pesa,” stated the legislator.
“Pay the doctors so that our people do not die… as the President, stop everything you are doing and pay the doctors.”
During a church service in Eldoret on Sunday, President Ruto mentioned that out of the Ksh.2.2 trillion collected annually, Ksh.1.1 trillion is allocated to salaries and wages within the country.
“It is important for us to agree that we must live within our means. We cannot continue to spend the money we do not have,” he said, in his first address on the matter since the strike began.
“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 Ksh.70,000 for intern doctors. It is not a salary, it is only a stipend for one year then they will be employed.”
Babu Owino To President Ruto: Sell Your Ksh.10M Watch And Pay Striking Doctors