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DOCTORS' STRIKE, A WAKE UP CALL


In 1963, The Union Jack was lowered and the Kenyan flag with its magical colours was hoisted. This marked the end of external rule and ushered in a new African revolution. She looked a promising country with enterprising citizens. Just after independence, the country has struggled under poor leadership and mega corruption scandals which have left the country reeling under the precipice of a failing economy.
This year alone has seen the country’s main currency, Kenya shilling, and trade at a high of 107 Kenya shillings per dollar. This is a little bit arm-twisting on a country whose imports ($4.49 billion 2009 estimates) exceed exports ($9.215 billion 2009 estimates). The stable level of the Dollar is Kshs.75 to the dollar. Given that the country’s estimated stands at a magnanimous 7.729 billion Dollars the common mwanainchi has had a pinch not to mention.
The pinch mentioned above and the skyrocketing food and fuel prices have sparked massive protests from the public. This has seen a number of civil servants stage strikes to cry foul on their poor pay that can hardly sustain their life.
The strikes started earlier on by teachers and lecturers and later the Kenya Power And lighting company workers said enough was enough. Other minor strikes were also felt as the bite really showed its bite.
The latest and most dreaded is the doctors’ strike. Not only are the medics crying foul over their pay but also poor working conditions. No medical equipment and those that are, have deteriorated to nobody knows what. Despite the hospitals deplorable condition, they also have strained human resource.
Unless the govt acts on this, the situation in the country is going on a standstill. While we are taking in all this, we are waiting for that dreaded moment when the Kenya Defense Forces will down their ammunitions, quit fighting the Al-shabab and with banners shout, “HAKI YETU!” “HAKI YETU!”A common Kenyan slogan to mean, “we want our rights.”


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