Ruto responds to striking doctors “We’ve no money”
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President Ruto tells off striking doctors over demands on salary increment and interns’ allowance
President Ruto tells off striking doctors over demands on salary increment and interns’ allowance.
Speaking during a church service at AIC Eldoret on Sunday, April 7, the president categorically stated that there was no money available to be spent on intern doctors.
“We have a situation with our doctors and interns. I want to implore them that it is important for us as a nation to agree that we must live within our means. We cannot continue to spend the money we don’t have,” he said.
The president expressed concern over the inflated wage bill in the country, noting that it was taking a huge chunk of revenue.
While the doctors’ union insisted on better remuneration for its members, the president said his object was to lower the wage bill to below 35% of the country’s revenue.
President Ruto said the country needed money to fund development and other sectors, suggesting the doctors’ call for improved remuneration would not be met given the state’s many commitments.
“We can progressively reduce our wage bill so that we can free more resources to create jobs for our young people, to fund our healthcare, education and development,” said Ruto.
With the foregoing, Ruto underscored the resolve to pay interns Sh 70,000 monthly stipend as they await employment.
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“I’m telling our friends, the doctors; we mind about them and value their services to our nation, but we must live within our means. The resources we have are only sufficient to pay KSh 70,000 to interns. It is not a salary, but a stipend for only one year and then they will be employed,” said the president.
With the industrial action having entered its fourth week, medics’ unions led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) have declined an offer made by government.
On April 2, the government extended an olive branch to the health workers, saying it would post all the eligible medical student interns, inviting them pick letters.
Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said accrued Basic Salary Arrears would be paid in full and Ksh.2.4 billion had already been disbursed to cater for the interns’ deployment and posting.
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