National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah has urged striking medical professionals to embrace negotiation to end the over three-week strike.
Ichung'wah spoke in Nyeri on Sunday, representing the President and his deputy at Harambee Church, where he stated that the protracted strike entails misery for ordinary Mwananchis.
He advised doctors to recognize that the country's economy is not yet stable enough to achieve their full expectations.
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Duncan Mathenge, MP for Nyeri town, reiterated his concerns, stating that Kenyans suffer greatly, particularly rural ones. He urged doctors to consider talks.
Earlier, President Ruto got into debates on the doctors' strike, claiming that the healthcare workers' requests are unfeasible given the country's already high salary bill.
“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,” the Head of State said on Sunday.
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Last week, the government presented doctors with a Ksh.2.4 billion offer, intending to help resolve the continuing deadlock and enable the posting of all qualifying medical student interns.
The doctors declined the offer because KMPDU Chairman Abi Mwachi and Secretary General Davji Atellah claimed it had not wholly implemented the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
SG Atellah has confirmed that the strike will continue, with a march on Tuesday, April 9. He says they will not be used as scapegoats for wage bill reduction.
"Despite government pressure, doctors' salaries, anchored on CBA, are non-negotiable. We won't compromise on fair compensation for our hard work. It's unjust to target us for wage bill control while state officers enjoy hefty paychecks," he wrote on X.
"We stand united against exploitation," he added.
