Doctors' strike: Opposition threatens mass demos if conditions not met

The opposition announced on Tuesday its intention to join striking medical workers countrywide in demonstrations, signalling a return to street protests as part of efforts to force the government to address key issues.

Kalonzo Musyoka, a principal of the opposition's Azimio la Umoja coalition and leader of the Wiper Democratic Movement, led the party in declaring displeasure with the way President William Ruto's administration is handling the health crisis.

"We are showing solidarity to our doctors. We had hoped that the government would have taken the concerns of the medics seriously but it is doing nothing," Kalonzo told a press conference at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi.

Accompanied by politicians including Eugene Wamalwa, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, and former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria, he claimed that more than 500 Kenyans have lost their lives as a result of the strike so they will not keep silent anymore.

No authority has confirmed this figure and the opposition leaders did not support it with evidence.

Kalonzo said, "What we are now seeing is a President who is refusing to pay doctors. Kenya Kwanza is preaching water and drinking heavy wine."

He added that the government should cut expenses such as travel costs to have enough for the pay doctors are demanding. Among the bones of contention are also internship postings for medical graduates, working conditions, and promotions.

According to Kalonzo, the government is collecting too much tax but is not using it to address the public's pressing needs.

"Kenyans are asking what the government is doing with the taxes it is collecting," he said.

Politician Eugene Wamalwa addresses a press conference at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi on April 9, 2024. (Photo: WDM)

Wamalwa said the government cannot say it does not have money to pay doctors while creating jobs for politicians who lost various races in past elections.

The leaders also waded into the fake fertiliser scandal, asking Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi to stop denying the existence of the substandard product.

"Linturi should not deny the distribution of fake fertiliser because Kenyans are aware that it happened," he said, demanding that the minister resign to allow investigations into the matter.

The CS has denied claims of fake fertiliser distribution by the government, noting that the bodies charged with quality checks have been doing their work. He has been summoned by the Senate, alongside his Trade counterpart Rebecca Miano and representatives of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

Former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria addresses a press conference at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi on April 9, 2024. (Photo: WDM)

Wa  Iria likened Ruto's laxity in handling the strike to mass murder or genocide.

"We shall soon call Kenyans to give us the names of people who have died as a result of the strike," he said, adding that they were mulling court action over the government's apparent inability to resolve the impasse.

"We are not going to watch as Kenyans die. We will have to save their lives from these irresponsible regimes," the ex-governor said.

The coalition declared, "Failure to immediately resolve the health crisis; compensate the farmers for their losses in the fake fertiliser scam; and, the immediate resignation of the said CSs; Azimio will not hesitate to join the already striking workers on the streets and mobilise Kenyans in exercising their rights to assemble, demonstrate, picket and petition."

Thus far, leaders including President Ruto, Azimio leader Raila Odinga, and Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha have urged dialogue to end the doctors' strike.