This land was obtained from a multinational fruit company after a lengthy legal battle. In 2021, the Parliamentary Lands Committee determined that the association should receive 70% of the land, with the remaining portion allocated to the Murang’a County Government.
However, the county government has now decided to utilize the land for constructing a Level 5 Hospital, implementing the Affordable Housing Program, developing a bus park, and establishing various other social amenities. The residents, led by Chairperson Geoffrey Kairu, expressed their opposition to President William Ruto’s legacy being established on their land.
Kairu called for an out-of-court settlement with the county government to resolve the issue of land subdivision. He emphasized that ongoing construction should be halted since the case is currently under consideration in the Court of Appeal. The residents demand their rightful 70% share and have even rejected the proposed hospital, asserting that while a hospital is necessary, it should not come at the expense of the land subdivision that benefits squatters.
Previously, the association sought the intervention of Water Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome and implored the current Parliament to implement the recommendations made by the former administration’s Parliamentary Lands Committee.
Housing Levy
Amidst the ongoing land dispute is the contentious issue regarding the proposed housing levy to be imposed on employed individuals by the Kenyan government. Members of Parliament from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party have called for the removal of the proposed Housing Levy from the Finance Bill 2023, currently in parliament.
The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) has also voiced concerns, warning that the implementation of the housing levy could lead to thousands of job losses. According to the FKE, the levy suggests a deduction of 1.5% from both employees and employers, which they deem to be unsustainable. Many employers are already struggling with the rising cost of doing business, exacerbated by high fuel prices and other global inflation factors. The FKE argues that imposing an additional financial burden in the form of the housing levy could have detrimental effects on businesses and potentially result in significant job losses.
