•“When doctors go on strike, it’s not a normal thing. So, we urge that this matter be brought to a conclusion to stop the suffering of Kenyans including doctors themselves,” Kalonzo said.
Image: GEORGE OWITI
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has urged the government to negotiate with the protesting doctors to resolve the current national strike.
Kalonzo emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to end the deadlock, as many lives are at risk due to the strike.
“We are calling on the seizure of the doctors’ strike. We are losing many Kenyans, somebody somewhere should have had a heart of flesh and not of stone,” Kalonzo said on Friday
He spoke after holding a Wiper party, Machakos caucus meeting.
In attendance were Wiper MPs from Machakos led by GovernorWavinya Ndeti, her deputy Francis Mwangangi, Woman representative Joyce Kamene, Senator Agnes Kavindu among others.
The Wiper leader said they discussed various issues including the ongoing doctors’ strike, party membership and increased road accidents in the country.
“When doctors go on strike, it’s not a normal thing. So, we urge that this matter be brought to a conclusion to stop the suffering of Kenyans including doctors themselves,” Kalonzo said.
The doctors have been on the streets for around four weeks now pushing the government to address issues related to their terms and conditions of work.
Kalonzo said apart from interns, there were qualified jobless doctors in the country.
“Parents sell property to educate children who qualify as doctors after many years but end up not having jobs. Those ones as from last year were more than 4, 000 – jobless doctors,” Kalonzo said.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura earlier hit back at doctors for rejecting the offer extended to them.
Speaking during a press briefing at KICC on Thursday, Mwaura said there was no reason for the doctors to reject the offer, adding that the two levels of government had agreed to handle the various issues which fall within their mandate.
Mwaura termed the strike as being politically instigated to sabotage the government's plan to shift to the Social Health Authority and attainment of UHC.
"There may be a political motive in sabotaging the Social Health Act and UHC, there is no way you can explain it because if you have already been given Sh2.4 billion, there is money for postgraduate training, we have agreed to negotiate the CBA again, then what is on the table?" Mwaura said.
The nationwide doctors' strike is in its third week marking March 14 as the commencement of the ongoing protest.
The absence of medical professionals from hospital wards has intensified the already dire situation, leaving hospitals in a state of disarray as doctors have opted to voice their grievances on the streets.