Raila Allies Pile Pressure on Ruto as Talks Hit Dead End

National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, a close ally of opposition leader Raila Odinga and a senior member of the Azimio Coalition has appealed to President William Ruto to take charge of government’s negotiations with doctors to end the strike that continues to cripple service delivery in public hospitals.

Speaking at a funeral in Unguja on Saturday, March 23, Wandayi claimed that Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha had failed to end the stalemate which Wandayi considers reason enough why President Ruto should step in.

He further pushed for the dismissal of the CS over what he termed as her failure to discharge her mandate.

“Where we have reached, this matter can no longer be left in the hands of the ministers, Susan Nakhumicha has failed in her work.  It will be Ruto’s responsibility to lead the negotiations with the doctors to end the strike”, stated Wandayi.

He also explained that the concern expressed by the opposition was growing since the effects of the doctor’s strike were only getting worse by the day.

Opiyo Wandayi was speaking in reference to a meeting held by the government and the leaders of the Doctor’s Union Kenya Medical Practitioners and Doctors’ Union (KMPDU), where the doctors stormed out of the meeting after failing to reach an agreement.

The ill-fated meeting prompted the doctors to continue with the strike despite the Government’s promise to post medical interns, which was one of the medics’ demands.

Wandayi further expressed disappointment in the government’s failure to disburse capitation funds to the education sector. Wandayi pointed out that this will cripple the Ministry as well.

Further, he criticised the Ministry of Agriculture for the prevalence of counterfeit fertiliser in government stores, advocating for immediate action to stem the proliferation of fake inputs in the market.

Notably, this push comes at a time when the CS Nakhumicha has accused individuals linked to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) scandals of sponsoring attacks against her performance.

CS Nakhumicha maintained that she has achieved a lot during her tenure so far which she claimed had prompted the individuals to be jealous.