President William Ruto, in his address on Sunday, April 7, 2024, called upon the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to halt the ongoing doctors’ strike. Speaking at a church service in Eldoret, President Ruto urged the medical professionals to consider the government’s offer, emphasizing the financial constraints faced by the government in meeting their demands.
Acknowledging the challenging circumstances within the country’s healthcare sector, President Ruto stressed the importance of fiscal responsibility, stating that it is imperative for the nation to operate within its financial means. He expressed concern over the unsustainable expenditure and emphasized the necessity of prudent financial management.
President Ruto underscored the value of the services provided by doctors to the nation while emphasizing the need for fiscal discipline. He noted that the available resources could only afford a stipend of Ksh70,000 for medical interns, intended for a one-year period before their formal employment.
These remarks from the president come amidst the ongoing nationwide doctors’ strike, which commenced 22 days prior. The strike, characterized by demonstrations in various regions, primarily revolves around demands for the government to fulfill its obligations under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and absorb medical interns, among other grievances.
In a separate development, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, on April 3, 2024, announced that the government had secured budgetary support amounting to KSh2.4 billion to facilitate the deployment of medical interns. Koskei issued a press statement urging all medical interns to collect their deployment letters from the Ministry of Health, starting Thursday, April 4.
Additionally, Koskei, who also chairs the Whole-of-the-Nation approach committee comprising various stakeholders, reiterated the government’s commitment to resolving the health crisis. He assured that all salary arrears owed by the national government in alignment with the 2017/2021 CBA had been settled.
