Doctors fault Ruto for failing to assure civil servants on salary payment

Doctors aligned to the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Nyanza region on Tuesday faulted President William Ruto for failing to assure civil servants of their salary payment.

A big section of civil servants have not been paid their March salaries, over what top government officials say is as a result of servicing the country's mature loans.

President William Ruto on Tuesday stated that his administration will not borrow money to finance recurrent expenditures.

"I assure Kenyans on the commitment I made that we are not going to borrow money and spend on recurrent expenditures, especially salaries," said Ruto.

Reacting to the President's stand, KMPDU Nyanza region leaders led by Chairman Dr. Onyango Ndong'a said the Head of State does not sound reassuring.

"That is not reassuring from the Head of State," Ndong'a told members of the press at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Refferal Hospital (JOOTRH).

Ndong'a said that the government led by the President should do everything humanly possible to ensure that civil servants are paid in time.

"We used to eat chicken in Mwai Kibaki's government. Now we are eating like chicken in this government," he added.

Being the person on the steering wheel, Ndong'a said President Ruto should always assure Kenyans that it shall be well.

The KMPDU Nyanza region Chairman said doctors in Kisumu County have not been paid their February and March, 2023 salaries.

The doctors are currently on strike which started 7 days ago to push for salary payment.

Ndong'a and other KMPDU leaders held a meeting with Kisumu governor Anyang' Nyong'o on Tuesday morning to try and find a middle ground.

Regrettably, the KMPDU Chair said nothing fruitful was arrived at.

"The governor promised to pay doctors once funds are available. He did not give a definite time frame on when that will be done."

As such, Ndong'a said the strike is on until they are paid.

He said some counties pay their medical staff on time, adding that the same cannot be said of Kisumu.