Opposition faults govt for involving religious leaders in doctors strike talks

A section of opposition leaders have criticized the government for calling for the intervention of the Inter-Religious Leaders to end the ongoing doctors’ strike.

Speaking in separate functions, MPs Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem) and Omondi Muluan (Alego Usonga) argued that it was a shame that the national government could not handle the ongoing strike.

The leaders further accused termed the national government of irresponsibility for what they said was failure to come up with a breakthrough for three months yet innocent Kenyans are suffering.

“It is the height of abdication of responsibility for national government to call for the intervention of the church. President Uhuru Kenyatta must step up his responsibility and look up to issues affecting the people,” said Wandayi.

“Three months doctors strike is something that has never happened anywhere in the world and there is no meaningful breakthrough on sight,” he added

Wandayi challenged the Jubilee leadership to at the fore front at offering solutions for the problems and issues affecting the people.

While asking the Head of State to admit failure to end the doctors’ strike, the Ugunja legislator asked Kenyatta to invite the opposition to give them a way forward on the strike.

According to Midiwo , the government was at fault but also noted that the governors have also had  a role to play.

He faulted the governors of threatening doctors and opting to stay in the boardrooms at the expense of offering solutions.

“It would be bad to leave out the governors in this mess. It is the governors who participated in taking t doctors to jail. A county like Bomet is strike free yet other 46 counties are suffering, it only means the governors are not doing something they can clearly do,” he revealed.

The legislator further blamed the county governments for embezzling health funds through the purported health system procurement leaving counties without funds.

“In 2010 the last budget before the constitution was promulgated our medicine budget was less than Ksh 4 billion but now governors are procuring in the tune of Ksh 100 billion and there is no medicine in the country. The governors are looting this country through health care system no wonder they have no interest in doctors,” he added.

MP Muluan accused the government of lacking seriousness with the welfare of the people stating that the discussions between them and doctors were being held without interest.

“The constitution states that where the county governments are unable the national government would step in not necessarily the department back. The national government should stop this irresponsibility and address the strike or wait for August this year for the people to send them out of office,” added Muluan.