On Tuesday afternoon, during a devolution meeting, President Kenyatta came out to address the ongoing doctors’ strike.
A visibly angry President Kenyatta did not mince his words, telling off the striking doctors, who have been on the streets for three months now.
The president maintained that his government will not be intimidated or blackmailed by the doctors, further threatening to have the doctors sacked.
According to the president, the economy cannot accommodate the doctors’ demands, who have stood their ground for a 300 per cent pay increase.
He accused the doctors of propagating their self-interests, saying they work for two hours only and spend much of their time at private facilities.
“We’re paying these people and we’ve offered more money than even doctors in the private sector receive, an intern today is offered more money than a medical practitioner working in a private hospital,” said President Kenyatta.
“Kwani hawa watu wanaona sisi ni wajinga kiasi gani,” loosely translated to “How stupid do they (doctors) think we are.
The president’s message was well received by many Kenyans, who have become tired of the doctors’ antics and hardline.
Many of the Kenyans who were behind the doctors in demanding their pay have since ‘softened’ their stance, and are now pointing an accusing finger at the striking doctors.
The doctors have ‘overstretched’ their strike to longer lengths than earlier anticipated, with situations in public hospitals worrying to say the least.
Many Kenyans, who went online to express their displeasure with the strike accused the doctors of being insensitive and not caring about Kenyans’ welfare.
The story took a new twist on Thursday after Kenyatta National Hospital laid off 12 doctors, and governors promising to further terminate contracts of the striking doctors.
Both the national and county governments have in the past threatened to ‘import’ doctors from other countries to help save the situation.