Azimio backs doctors strike, accuses state of neglecting health sector

Doctors and Government officials during the Doctors and Government officials meeting at KICC. Nairobi on March 21, 2024, to solve the doctors' strike that has paralyzed hospitals. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Azimio leaders have accused the government of neglecting the health sector as the nationwide doctors' strike continues to bite.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his Democratic Action Party of Kenya counterpart Eugene Wamalwa said the opposition is supporting the doctors and urged the government to address their grievances.

They described the government's treatment of doctors as unacceptable.

Kalonzo faulted President William Ruto's government over the delay to post intern doctors to improve service delivery in hospitals.

“It is impossible to tell us that you don’t have Sh4 billion to employ the doctors who are very much needed in our hospitals for us to be sure of healthcare services,” Kalonzo said.

The opposition leader said that several Kenyans are suffering because of the doctor's strike.

“Our doctors take six years to graduate as doctors. By the time they are being considered for salaries, they are practicing and they should not be discriminated against. Right now healthcare services are not there, we need doctors back in hospitals,” Wamalwa said

They warned President Ruto to prepare for fresh protests against the punitive taxes which they said were burdening Kenyans.

The Azimio leaders were speaking in Nyamira where they opened the Wiper party’s county office.

“Our country is the only one with very punitive taxes and as it is, even the lowest of Kenyans will have to be punished with such actions of imposing high levies which at the end of the day end up in the stomachs of only a few powerful Kenyans,” Kalonzo said.

The Wiper leader claimed that the Kenya Kwanza administration was keen to ruin the economy.

They were accompanied by Matungulu MP Stephen Mule, his Embakasi South counterpart Anne Magwathe and Kitui Woman Rep Irene Kasalwa.

The politicians said that Azimio would remain strong even if opposition leader Raila Odinga clinches the African Union Commission job.

“Baba (Raila) has moved up to be the father of African nations. But he has left us in charge and I want to assure everyone that we are intact and we will claim the 2027 presidency and make Ruto a one-term president,” Wamalwa said.