Francis Atwoli Defends Ruto's Stand That Govt Lacks Money To Pay Doctors: "Trying To Be Sincere"

• Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli said experts' opinions inform President William Ruto's stand
• Atwoli said the head of state was only trying to be sincere with the striking doctors over the lack of funds
• According to the veteran trade unionist, there is a need for a compromise between the government and KMPDU

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has backed President William Ruto's stand over the ongoing doctors strike.

Why does Francis Atwoli support William Ruto?

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 was trying to be sincere with the striking doctors over the current stalemate.

He argued that what needed to be done was 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 the expert opinion of National Treasury workers could have informed Ruto's position.

"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.

Why Kithure Kindiki banned protests by KMPDU

Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki banned ongoing demonstrations by KMPDU doctors.

In a statement on Tuesday, April 9, Kindiki said the doctors were engaging in illegality, arguing that the Employment and Labour Relations Court ordered the parties in the ongoing industrial dispute in the health sector to engage in conciliation and negotiation proceedings within 14 days.

What you need to know about doctors' strike

• The doctors refused to take the KSh 2.4 billion offer by the government for the payment of medical interns
• Clinical officers also downed their tools after the government failed to act on their grievances
• Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba expressed dissatisfaction with the Kenya Kwanza government following its alleged inability to solve the doctors' strike

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

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Trade unionist Francis Atwoli speaking at COTU event in Nairobi.

Francis Atwoli Defends Ruto's Stand that Govt Lacks Money to Pay

Francis Atwoli Defends Ruto's Stand that Govt Lacks Money to Pay