President William Ruto has dismissed striking doctors' demands for salary increases and interns' allowances, claiming that the country is struggling with a massive wage bill.
Speaking during a Sunday service at Eldoret AIC Fellowship Church, the Head of State stated that the country spends Kshs. 1.1 trillion out of the 2.2 trillion collected each year on salary and wage payments.
“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,” he said.
He stated that Kenya's wage bill is 47% higher than the recommended 35%, and that the country needs to have a conversation about who is responsible for lowering the wage bill.
“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. And we can reduce our wage bill so that we can free more resources to create jobs for our young people,” he said.
President Ruto has agreed with the cabinet to reduce the budget from Ksh. 4.2 trillion to Ksh. 3.7 trillion so that the country can live within its means.
On April 2, the government extended an olive branch to health workers.
Head of Public Service Felix Koskei stated that accrued Basic Salary Arrears would be paid in full, and Ksh.2.4 billion had already been disbursed to cover the interns' deployment and posting.
KMPDU later instructed interns not to pick up the letters, claiming that it (the union) had not been involved in the negotiations leading up to the advance and that there were no clear legally binding resolutions on how doctors should resume work.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has also ignored the Ministry of Health's advice to its interns, instructing them not to collect offer letters.