Raila says money spent in harambees should pay medics

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader, Raila Odinga, and his Amani National Congress (ANC) counterpart, Musalia Mudavadi, have accused the Jubilee administration of misusing public resources through harambees instead of paying doctors as agreed in a 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Speaking at the Aberdare County Club in Kieni on Wednesday, December 7 morning, Odinga claimed that the money the Jubilee government is contributing in fundraisers is public funds embezzled in various ministries.

Odinga further pointed out the sad and agonizing situation where innocent Kenyans are suffering and dying while the government is yet to respond to the doctors’ and nurses’ demands.

Odinga has urged the government to convene a sitting with the medics and come up with a solution to end the stalemate.

On his part, Mudavadi urged the government to honour the 300 per cent salary increment as stipulated in the CBA signed in 2013.

The two opposition leaders are reported to have been at the Aberdare Country Club on a mission to strategize on the structures of their election vehicle come 2017.

Their sentiments come just a day after efforts by officials from the Ministry of Health, Council of Governors and doctors’ union to end the strike failed.

The Kenya National Union of Nurses also demanded that Health CS, Cleopa Mailu, and his PS, Nicholas Muraguri, be kicked out from the dialogue team after claiming the body never signed recognition agreement with counties.

Union Chairman, John Bii, said that the union does not have confidence in Muraguri, and has also vowed not to attend talks with the CS, accusing him of failing to put together a proper negotiating team.

Bii also accused the PS of trying to bribe them to return to work, saying nothing will stop their quest for better working conditions.

Additional reporting by Wangui Ngechu