UhuRuto remain silent as medics’ strike enters day two

Patients lie unattended in Ward 5 at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital on the second day of the doctors and nurses' strike. Some patients were transferred to private hospitals in the region. PHOTO: SAMMY OMINGO/STANDARD

President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and the country’s top political leadership remained silent yesterday as Kenyans continued to suffer over the doctors and nurses’ strike. And there was a ray of hope last night after Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu said talks on ending the crippling strike were progressing well and that a solution might be found today.

“However, we have not reached a point where we can say reprieve can be found for the suffering Kenyans,” cautioned Mailu. County governments resorted to desperate measures to stem the suffering, even as the President and his deputy visited Ukambani on a two-day tour and Opposition leader Raila Odinga was in Samburu meeting his party’s delegates.