By Rawlings Otieno
Restore and Build Kenya presidential aspirant James ole Kiyiapi has accused the Treasury of being the stumbling block to ending strikes in the education and health sectors.
Prof Kiyiapi said the social unrest being experienced in the country was an unfortunate situation resulting from social injustices, citing unwillingness on the part of the Government to end the crisis.
“We cannot have a government that is insensitive to the plight of the poor Kenyan,” said Kiyiapi.
He lashed out at the Treasury, which he described as wielding dictatorial tendencies by giving public money to those selectively and denying other civil servants their right.
“The Treasury must know that they don’t own the money. They are only put in charge,” added Kiyiapi, who was speaking after a church service in Nairobi yesterday.
He said the Government cannot increase salaries selectively and deny teachers what is rightfully theirs.
End strike
Kiyiapi now wants President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to end the strike that has paralysed learning in public schools, universities and public hospitals.
He said his presidency would seek to come up with solutions before social unrest occurs through setting up financial foundations and bursaries for all children to acquire education.
He accused the ministries of Education and Medical Services of letting their employees down by issuing threats and intimidation instead of embracing dialogue and promised that if elected, he would ensure that lecturers are given enough money to stop running from teaching to join politics.
“Why give some politicians more than a million and some only have Form Four certificates? The professors must be given enough money to stay in class and teach our children,” said Kiyiapi.
