Living within our means must apply across the board

President William Ruto’s call for striking doctors to resume work and accept the government’s offer brings to light a contentious issue regarding resource allocation and government priorities in Kenya.

Much as the President emphasizes the government’s limitations in raising wages due to constrained resources, his plea is met with suspicion, given the apparent disparities in resource allocation and expenditure by some sections of government and those close to the trappings of power.

While Ruto’s emphasis on living within available resources is right, this stance raises fundamental questions about the government’s spending priorities compared to the allocation of resources to critical sectors such as healthcare and agriculture.

Suffice to say that the government’s allocation of resources towards accommodating political supporters and friends, including the creation and maintenance of positions like Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs), has already drawn criticism.

The proliferation of positions, perceived as unnecessary by many, contrasts sharply with the government’s reluctance to allocate adequate resources to address pressing issues like healthcare worker wages.

In this case, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) argues that their demands for improved wages and working conditions are grounded in previous agreements reached with the government.

This is not to say that they are right in going on strike. But the failure to honour these agreements exacerbates the frustration among healthcare workers and undermines trust in the government’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations.

Moreover, concerns about government expenditure arise from revelations about extravagant spending on hospitality and foreign trips, which underpins with the burden of increasing debt and diminishing tax revenue.

While Kenyans grapple with the high cost of living and bread-and-butter issues, the government’s spending on non-priority items has come under scrutiny.

For instance, the allocation of emergency funds for projects such as refurbishing State House and purchasing luxury vehicles raises questions about the government’s spending priorities.

In a clear case of investment in opulence, for example, the new government exploited a loophole in the law to get additional funding for non-priority items.

Money obtained as an emergency kitty was used to give State House a new shine, purchase cars and construct a dais. State House was allocated some Sh400 million to cater for the purchase of motor vehicles and another Sh700 million for the construction of a presidential dais at the State House Gardens.

The reports by Controller of Budget (CoB) further says that out of the Sh1.4 trillion sent to the State for six months, only Sh70.41 billion went to development.

The discrepancy between lavish spending and the inability to meet basic needs, such as healthcare worker salaries, underscores systemic issues in fiscal management and resource allocation.

Maybe, just maybe, cutting salaries across the board, starting with top government officials, may present a broader balance for equity and accountability in resource distribution.

It is important to note that transparency in government spending and the reallocation of funds from non-essential projects to critical sectors like healthcare resonate with many who feel the impact of inadequate public services.

Kenyans would vouch for prioritizing essential services like healthcare which is paramount for the well-being of all citizens, regardless of socio-economic status because the inability to access quality healthcare due to strikes or resource shortages disproportionately affects vulnerable populations who rely on public services for their health needs.

The President’s call to doctors opens a Pandora’s box over the debate on allocation of resources which reflects broader challenges in governance, accountability and prioritization of public spending.

Ruto’s call for fiscal prudence is valid, but it must be accompanied by efforts to ensure that essential services like healthcare receive adequate funding and attention.

—The writer is the Business Editor, People Daily