Kalonzo Urges Quick End to Doctors Strike, Blasts Gov’t Over ‘Misplaced’ Priorities
Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticized the Kenya Kwanza administration for its inability to resolve the ongoing countrywide doctors’ strike. The strike, which has lasted for more than three weeks, has seen medical professionals refusing to work due to unresolved issues.
Addressing a gathering in Athi River, Machakos County on Friday after a meeting with Wiper leaders, Kalonzo criticized President William Ruto’s administration for focusing on less important matters, like the suggestion to bring back Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) positions, rather than resolving the ongoing issue of the medical workers’ go-slow.
Kalonzo additionally expressed his concern over the hardships experienced by Kenyan citizens, attributing them to what he described as the government’s misdirected focus.
“We are losing so many Kenyans. Somebody somewhere should have a heart of flesh, not stone. It is not normal for doctors to go on strike. We are urging that this matter be brought to a conclusion to stop the suffering of Kenyans including the doctors themselves,” he said.
“Instead of addressing this, the government is looking to appoint Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) to pay back promises made before the polls. Instead of paying doctors, you are offering high salaries to these CASs’; they earn more than MPs.”
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Kalonzo additionally claimed that the continuous exchange between the government and healthcare workers underscores incompetence and a deficiency in professionalism within the government.
“They are not asking for anything out of the ordinary. Even apart from the interns, some doctors have graduated and are currently unemployed after several years in school. As of last year, they were more than 4,000,” he said.
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti expressed the same views, proposing a collaborative gathering involving the government, medical professionals, and the administrations of all 47 counties to peacefully resolve the current nationwide healthcare crisis.
Ndeti expressed her thoughts on Friday while hosting Muslims for an Iftar dinner at the Machakos County Government headquarters.
“Our doctors are on strike. I want to urge the national government to sit down with the medics; our people are suffering. There should be some sort of compromise from these talks. Let us find a middle ground so that we can resolve this issue,” she said.
Kalonzo Urges Quick End to Doctors Strike, Blasts Gov’t Over ‘Misplaced’ Priorities