The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah has said doctors will continue to down their tools and head to the streets in protest until the government listens to them.
These sentiments came in response to President William Ruto‘s remarks on scrutiny over the nation’s wage bill.
While speaking at Eldoret AIC Fellowship Church on April 7, Ruto acknowledged the country’s struggle with a substantial wage bill and affirmed the government’s decision not to reconsider its offer of Ksh 70,000 for interns.
“We must agree as a nation to live within our means, and we cannot continue to spend money we don’t have,” stated President Ruto.
“We recognize the dedication of doctors and value the service they provide to the nation, but we must live within our means. The resources available can only support a stipend of Ksh. 70,000 for intern doctors. It is not a salary but a stipend for one year, after which they will be employed.”
President Ruto also revealed plans by the government to reduce the national budget from Ksh4.2 trillion to Ksh3.7 trillion.
“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.
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KMPDU Fires Back at Ruto
However, in response, Davji rejected the notion of doctors being used as scapegoats for reducing the wage bill, noting that their salaries should be based on fair agreements.
“As doctors, we reject being scapegoats for wage bill reduction. Our salaries, as vital as any Kenyan’s, are based on fair agreements,” Atellah wrote.
He noted that doctors would not compromise fair compensation for their hard work.
“Despite government pressure, doctors’ salaries, as stipulated in the CBA, are non-negotiable. We refuse to compromise on fair compensation for our hard work. It is unfair to target us for wage bill control while state officers enjoy substantial paychecks,” he noted.
“We stand united against exploitation.”
Also Read: President Ruto Explains Why Govt Won’t Offer New Deal to Doctors
In March 2024, Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Lyn Mengich warned that the government’s increasing appetite for hiring poses a risk of further inflating the wage bill.
She added that this complicates efforts to allocate resources for service delivery and development.
“What we are finding today in all levels of government is that we are carrying excess staff establishment. They are way above our wage bill, especially national government and state corporations,” Mengich said earlier.
