Wamuchomba castigates Ruto over doctor's strike
National
By
Sharon Wanga
| Apr 08, 2024
Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba has continued to castigate the Kenya Kwanza administration for what she termed as misplaced priorities in concern to the doctors' strike.
Speaking on Monday, April 8 in an interview on Spice FM, Githunguri MP claimed that President Ruto's advisors are misleading him in finding a solution to end the doctors' strike.
Wamuchomba was reacting to the President's remarks declaring that there is no more money to pay doctors.
"Is the president saying that those of us who cannot get to a nice maternity hospital or a privately operated facility should continue getting our babies on the floors of public hospitals?" Wamuchomba posed.
"President's advisors who are telling him that the economy cannot afford and absorb the needs of our doctors are wrong," she said.
The legislature further noted that the government was giving more weight to affordable housing at the expense of other matters of public concern including the doctors' strike and education.
" The form one transition this year has been the lowest at 90.14pc compared to last when it was almost 100pc. What is our priority? Is it affordable housing or is it our medication?" she asked.
She also mentioned that the government has failed to provide basic education to learners slugging on the form one transition process.
" It's not within our means to construct affordable houses when we cannot afford to take our loved ones to form one," she added.
Her remarks on the state of healthcare come amidst an ongoing medics nationwide strike that has paralyzed health services.
The strike now enters the 25th day after the government failed to honor the medics' 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, and salary payment among other issues.
However, on Sunday President Ruto told the striking doctors that his government does not have money to meet their demands.
"I know we have a situation with doctors and medical interns. I would like to implore them to agree to live within our means. We cannot continue to spend money we don't have," Ruto said.