NARC Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua has blasted President William Ruto over the ongoing doctors’ strike, the fake fertilizer scandal and the over-taxation by his administration.
In a statement dated April 8, Karua said the government has failed to meet the doctors’ demands despite the loss of lives experienced during the strike.
Karua explained that the medical interns remain unposted while the health facilities are seriously understaffed and under-equipped.
“At the heart of the strike is the plight of intern doctors who are being left to stay unposted and unemployed for over a year and for some seven years and when posted being grossly underpaid,” the statement read.
She criticized the government for misusing taxpayers’ money on non-essential luxury items while neglecting to listen to the plight of doctors, citizens and all health workers who are the majority.
“Our conclusion is that the lives of citizens do not matter to this regime and that their priority is their own comfort and that of a select few. We condemn this in the strongest terms. Kenyans deserve better,” she said.
Speaking about the strike for the first time, President Ruto said the government has no money to increase doctors’ salaries.
Ruto urged doctors to resume work adding that the country is facing a ballooning wage bill to stress that the economy at the present could not accommodate their demands.
Karua on Govt’s Fake Fertilizer
In addition to the doctors’ strike, Karua also weighed in on the fertilizer scandal stating that it had exposed the government’s lack of empathy to the farmers and the people.
He stated that by selling fake fertilizer and seeds to farmers, the government is directly wishing hunger and death for the vulnerable Kenyans.
“The fake fertilizer heist suggests a deliberate scheme to lower food production to increase food insecurity in order to force starving Kenyans to be at the mercy of food cartels,” she said.
“It is a sadistic act by those entrusted with the task of making the nation food secure.”
Also Read: 8 Govt Officials Linked to Fake Fertilizer Scandal Interdicted
According to Karua, the scandal is an indication that the government does not care about its citizens.
She said the government’s aim is to send Kenya to its ‘death bed’ since food security should be a priority to any government.
Karua’s demands came after Ruto warned that those behind the sale of the fake fertilizers will face the law.
Speaking in Uasin Gishu County on April 8, Ruto promised to deal with fraudsters trying to undermine the government’s food production program by selling fake fertilizer.
Also Read: Doctors Respond to Ruto’s Offer in Ending Ongoing Strike
Taxation & Corruption
Karua also accused Ruto of overtaxing Kenyans while there is no accountability, embezzlement, corruption and diminishing services in all the sectors.
She explained that the taxes have created a toxic business environment that has seen local and international investors close their businesses and some relocate.
“All this is under the shameful watch of this regime which is out to destroy our beloved nation. This regime has deliberately gone rogue,” Karua said.
However, Ruto has always maintained that he will do all it takes to make them realize Kenya Kwanza’s development plans.
