Kenyans Moved By Citizen TV's Sam Gituku's Hard-Hitting Message To Govt [VIDEO]

Citizen TV journalist Sam Gituku on Friday, March 22 won the hearts of Kenyans thanks to his Sam's Sense memo on the Newsgang show where he highlighted the plight of doctors in Kenya amidst the ongoing nationwide strike entering its ninth day.

In the memo towards the end of the show, he appreciated the young Kenyans who spend up to six years in school understanding the human anatomy to be the much-needed relief when humanity falls sick, achieved through spending countless hours in class in a health science-related course, understanding various diseases, the diagnosis required, the treatment regimens and more importantly the care required to save lives.

Gituku accused the Kenyan government at all levels of treating the plight of doctors countrywide casually given the no-nonsense nature of their fields which sees them walk on tight ropes in terms of saving human lives, a matter leading to numerous strikes and protests as is the case at the moment.

Here is the video:

"For far too long, however, the Kenyan government both at the national and county level has displayed ways condescending and insensitive to this crucial segment of our society. Presently, doctors are on strike complaining about among other things the delayed posting of medical interns, a crucial one-year-long step that makes a medicine graduate a doctor.

"For starters, it takes a doctor at least six years of study in Kenya to qualify for an internship. Six years, longer than a presidential term. Six years of pure dedication with zero tolerance to casualness like what we see with government officials dealing with the doctors’ issue," he stated in part.

Gituku, known for his expertise in crunching the numbers, shed light on the expensive nature of studying medicine in Kenya, costing one Ksh612,000 every academic year that usually runs for three terms in a university, meaning that one ends up investing over Ksh3.6 million at the end of the six-year course, which students assisted by families ought to pay for or seek assistance from the government based on the family’s economic status.

Based on the current university-funding model, a medical student who opts for funding through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) may end up with a loan of over Ksh2 million before finding a medical internship opportunity, a loan which he or she has to pay.

The news anchor slammed the government for addressing unemployment in the wrong way, citing the Affordable Housing programme which he indicated the regime was hell-bent on prioritizing over the plight of doctors, arguably the most critical professionals in human history.

"In a country where unemployment has become a campaign tool; a country where every leader who imagines they have something to offer encourages people to find technical skills. In a country where the government’s biggest invention thus far in fighting unemployment is the Affordable Housing programme, which according to the government’s unverified figures has generated over 110,000 jobs at construction sites; one cannot help but wonder, do we really have a strategy to honour or at least respect our best brains?" he posed.

He called out the government for double-speak; in particular, its confidence in raising over Ksh100 billion in housing levy yet complaining regarding doctors being jobless, and hospitals having inadequate resources from human to financial, infrastructural to even technical.

He further read malice into sentiments by Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakumicha who claimed that some 50 doctors were willing to take their medical internship for free just to qualify for registration to practice.

Gituku accused the government of confusing despair for generosity, yet bragging about how Kenya has some of the best human resources on the continent, adding that the human capital index shows Kenya leads Africa.

"But I have a few questions: how many medical specialists do we have? Nephrologists, obstetrician-gynaecologists? Oncologists? Cardiologists? Neurosurgeons? How about endocrinologists for a country that continuously struggles with cases of diabetes? For a country that continuously is having to deal with severe medical complications that have reduced Kenyans to beggars, who have to travel thousands of miles in search of medical attention.

"And yet, a hopeful medical intern must wait until Afya House is convinced they are important enough. These are the same people that in a few years should be inspired enough to go back to school to specialize. What’s our plan to train them further and maintain them, selfishly for ourselves knowing there is a serious clamour for medical specialists the world over? And ooh! Didn’t we hear recently Governors complaining of medical brain drain?" he posed.

Gituku's memo was widely appreciated by doctors, fellow journalists and other Kenyans who have been on the Ministry of Health and CS Nakhumicha's neck for more than a week since the strike began.

"I’ve read the comments from my sense here. Extremely Heartbreaking. Writing this, I didn’t realise what effect it’d have. Glad our health professionals can relate. Looking forward to the effective resolution of the current challenges. More importantly, a solid strategy for the future," he responded on X.

Meanwhile, the protests escalated outside Afya House, on Friday, March 22, with medics calling for the resignation of CS Nakhumicha, marking deep-rooted discontent within the healthcare sector.

Amidst the chants of "Nakhumicha must go!" and the striking image of doctors clad in their signature white coats and blue surgical caps, the standoff between medical professionals and the government intensified. 

Doctors on strike on March 22, 2024. /X

The strike, now in its second week, reflected broader demands from doctors, including improved working conditions, implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements, and adequate provision of medical cover.

On Thursday night, the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) met with the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, Treasury CS Njuguna Ndungu, Health CS Nakhumicha, Labour CS Florence Bore, Council of Governors, KMPDU, Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), Public Service Commission, Kenya Federation of Employers, and Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) among other stakeholders. 

“We have met with government agencies including the Ministry of Health. They have seen our issues but have offered no response. We will be on strike for as long as it takes,” KMPDU Secretary General, Davji Attelah stated. 

The doctors have continued to defy the Health CS despite her threats to sack doctors participating in the ongoing nationwide strike.