President William Ruto has told off striking doctors over demands on salary increment and interns’ allowance, saying the country is struggling with a huge wage bill.

Speaking while attending Sunday service at Eldoret AIC Fellowship church, the Head of State said the country is spending Kshs. 1.1 trillion every year of the 2.2 trillion collected on payment of salaries and wages.

“It is important for us to agree that we must live within our means. We cannot continue to spend the money we do not have,” President Ruto, who has for the first time addressed the matter, stated.

He said Kenya’s wage bill is at 47% against the recommended 35%, noting that the country needs a conversation so that those who earn salaries are responsible for the reduction of wage bill.

“Our wage bill is 47% of our revenue. It should be 35% according to the law. So we are way above. We need a conversation so that those of us who earn salaries are responsible. And we can reduce our wage bill so that we can free more resources to create jobs for our young people,” he said.

President Ruto he has agreed with the cabinet to reduce the budget from Ksh. 4.2 trillion to Ksh.3.7 trillion so that the country lives within its means.

He argued that the country will not borrow to pay salaries, adding that all intern doctors will be absorbed in terms that government has offered.

“We mind them (doctors), we value the service they give to the nation, but we must live within our means. The resources we have are only sufficient to pay Ksh.70,000 for intern doctors. It is not a salary, it is only a stipend for one year then they will be employed,” he said. 

With the industrial action having entered its fourth week, medics' unions led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) have declined an offer made by government. 

On April 2, the government extended an olive branch to the health workers, saying it would post all the eligible medical student interns, inviting them pick letters. 

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said accrued Basic Salary Arrears would be paid in full and Ksh.2.4 billion had already been disbursed to cater for the interns’ deployment and posting.