‘We Must Live Within Our Means,’ Ruto’s Rebuke to Striking Doctors
President William Ruto has rebuked striking doctors regarding their requests for salary increases and interns’ allowances, emphasizing that the nation is grappling with a significant wage expenditure.
During his attendance at the Sunday service at Eldoret AIC Fellowship church, the President stated that out of the 2.2 trillion collected annually, the nation allocates 1.1 trillion towards salaries and wages.
“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,” President Ruto, who has for the first time addressed the matter, stated.
He mentioned that Kenya’s salary expenses stand at 47%, exceeding the advised 35%. He emphasized the necessity for a dialogue to ensure that those receiving salaries take responsibility for lowering the wage bill.
“Our wage bill is 47% of our revenue. It should be 35% 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,” he said.
President Ruto, in consensus with the cabinet, has approved a reduction of the budget from Ksh. 4.2 trillion to Ksh. 3.7 trillion to ensure fiscal responsibility and align with the country’s financial capabilities.
He contended that the nation would not incur debt to cover salary payments, further stating that all intern doctors would be accommodated under the terms provided by the government.
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“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,” he said.
After four weeks of ongoing industrial action, medical unions, spearheaded by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU), have rejected a proposal put forth by the government.
On April 2nd, the government offered an olive branch to healthcare workers by announcing that it would deploy all qualified medical student interns, allowing them to select their placements.
Felix Koskei, the leader of the Public Service, stated that all outstanding basic salary arrears will be settled completely. Additionally, he mentioned that a sum of Ksh.2.4 billion has already been allocated to cover the deployment and assignment of interns.
Later on, the KMPDU advised interns against taking the letters, clarifying that the union hadn’t participated in the negotiations that resulted in the advance payment. Furthermore, they stated that there were no definitive legally binding agreements outlining the procedures for doctors to return to work.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has also ignored the Ministry of Health’s advice to its interns, instructing them not to retrieve the offer letters.
‘We Must Live Within Our Means,’ Ruto’s Rebuke to Striking Doctors