Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has reacted to President William Ruto's remarks about the ongoing dispute between the government and striking doctors.
President Ruto challenged those leaders who are supporting the ongoing strike to pay them instead, pointing out that the government does not have the funds to meet the doctors' salary needs.
“If you support the strike then pay the money they are asking for. We must stop chasing what is popular, and instead go for what is right,” Ruto said.
Hours later, during a Senate plenary, Senator Sifuna chastised Ruto for his remarks, noting that the doctors' salary demands should be met because they are paid from public funds rather than the president's.
"I want to remind him that the money that pays doctors, the money that pays him, is not his money. We support doctors, and we want our taxes to pay doctors," he said.
He was also concerned about the blatant threats issued by Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, who has repeatedly warned doctors not to take to the streets.
Sifuna contended that Koome has demonstrated incompetence, and that his appointment to the pivotal seat in national security poses a significant threat to the enforcement of law provisions.
"He does not seem to understand the Bill of Rights and people have the right to assemble. I have been seeing doctors in the streets dressed in their white coats [and] they don't look threatening at all," noted Sifuna.
"When an IG of police says that they are going to bludgeon doctors who are on strike this is someone who has no idea on what he is doing in the office of the IG of police."
He also chastised Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha for her recent comments on the strike, which demonstrated a lack of willingness to help resolve the crisis.
Sifuna stated that the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which is at the heart of the dispute, should be fully honoured and that the government should follow the law in implementing it.
"The government today must understand that CBAs do not expire unless a new one is registered in the Labour and Employment Court. When a government comes and finds an agreement in place, it is the responsibility of that government to honour those agreements," he said.
"I wanted to request the CS for Health and the government whether they understand the sanctity of a CBA. Then you have a ministry that says that the civil protests are being sponsored by cartels and they are the ones financing this industrial action."