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The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has President William Ruto’s stand over the ongoing doctors strike. Speaking on Citizen TV on Wednesday, April 10, the outspoken leader backed Ruto’s sentiments that the government lacks the money to meet the demands of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU). According to the veteran trade unionist, the president is trying to be sincere with the striking doctors over the current stalemate. He argues that what needs to be done is to have a compromise position to ensure doctors resume their work. “But the President says he has no money. He’s trying to be candidly clear on what he has, but how do we turn that into a paper and sign? How do we convince, or how do we get a way out of it? He’s trying to be sincere,” Atwoli said. Atwoli pointed out that Ruto’s position could have been informed by the expert opinion of people working at the National Treasury. “You know very well the Treasury, people who want to focus on taxation, people who look into the affairs of our economy, people who handle issues on a daily basis that concern Kenyans, as far as working men and women in this country are concerned, are in government. And these are the people that understand what happens from each and every quarter,” he added. He defended the government’s move to spend KSh 900 million to renovate the state house.
by Amos Khaemba