ODM legislators ask Uhuru to declare he is unable to lead
Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga (second left) and Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire with warders at Lang'ata Women's Prison in Nairobi on February 14, 2017. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
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The MPs accused President Kenyatta of not taking responsibility for the industrial action crisis, hunger and other problems facing the country.
The lawmakers, who had visited one of the jailed doctors’ union officials, Daisy Korir, at the Langata Women Prison, said President Kenyatta was not fit to seek re-election.
Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Orange Democratic Movement on Tuesday asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to “own up” and declare that he is unable to lead because Kenya is now "on “autopilot".
The MPs accused President Kenyatta of not taking responsibility for the industrial action crisis, hunger and other problems facing the country.
“If the President cannot rise to the challenge of leadership, then, for the good of the nation, he must own up and let Kenyans know that they are on their own,” the MPs led by Kitutu Masaba’s, Timothy Bosire said.
The lawmakers, who had visited one of the jailed doctors’ union officials, Daisy Korir, at the Langata Women Prison, said President Kenyatta was not fit to seek re-election.
“We are dismayed at the lack of political leadership required to resolve the stalemate in this country,” Mr Bosire said. He said that the Opposition was in solidarity with the doctors who have been “jailed for a worthy cause”.
“...the officials were separated and placed in different prisons. This was done in order to torture them and so that they can break down,” the MP said.
Homa Bay woman representative Gladys Wanga said the Opposition was disappointed with the government because it had jailed doctors, yet many corrupt people continued to walk freely in the streets.
Seven officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union were on Monday jailed for failing to call off a strike declared illegal by the court.
'CONTEMPTUOUS DISREGARD'
On Tuesday, the Council of Governors blamed the doctors’ “contemptuous disregard for the law” for the jailing of the officials. Addressing a press conference at the council’s offices in Westlands, its chair Peter Munya said: “If we go back to the old days where the courts are not respected we will be going to anarchy.”
Mr Munya was accompanied by Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma, the council’s health committee chair. The Meru governor said they were committed to negotiations and “we are shocked at the turn of events”.
Despite acknowledging that patients were suffering as doctors remained on strike, Mr Munya expressed his dissatisfaction with the manner in which the doctors responded to the negotiations.
He said each time they called the doctors to the negotiating table, they asked to go outside to consult and they never came back. “The 300 or 400 per cent pay rise that the medics are seeking is unsustainable. If we increase pay for each of the workers at that level, will we afford it?” he asked.
The governors, however, blamed the national government for devolving health and hoarding money that was supposed to provide services.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Women Lawyers – Kenya said women are already overburdened by the situation as the fact that there is no available medical attention means they have to take care of the sick at home.
