President William Ruto has broken his silence on the ongoing doctors strike that has paralysed operations in various hospitals in the country.
Speaking during a church service on Sunday at the Eldoret AIC Fellowship church, the President said that the government is too broke to affprd the demands laid forth by the striking doctors.
According to the head of state, the country is struggling with a huge wage bill with Kshs. 1.1 trillion every year of the 2.2 trillion collected on payment of salaries and wages making it hard to meet the doctors demands.
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“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. 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.”
The President urged the striking doctors to consider the government’s proposal for Ksh. 70,000 for interns and return to work due to the current situation of the country.
“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.”
This comes as the doctors strike is entering its fourth week with the doctors union rejecting the government offer saying that interns deserve more than what the government is offering.
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COTU Secretary General also said that the workers union will set up a meeting between the striking doctors and the government for an amicable solution as soon as possible.