President William Ruto has issued a directive for all contractors and workers involved in the Affordable Housing Program to continue their work despite the court’s suspension of the Housing Levy.
Speaking in Bungoma County on Thursday, February 1, President Ruto addressed concerns raised by some Housing Project contractors regarding the housing levy case. He urged young people and contractors engaged in the housing program to persist with their work, emphasizing the importance of preserving employment opportunities.
“I saw yesterday some contractors have started spreading rumors, I don’t know what is in court. I want to tell all the young people in Kenya and the contractors working in the housing program to continue with their work because there is no way we can take someone out of work where they earn their livelihood,” stated President Ruto.
Expressing concern about the fate of over one hundred thousand workers involved in the project, Ruto questioned where he could relocate such a large workforce. He also expressed his commitment to expanding the project’s workforce, aiming to employ over five hundred additional people by the end of the year.
“Where will I take a hundred thousand people? Let them continue working. First, I want to push so that by the end of this year, half a million young people will be working in the housing program,” he added.
The Court of Appeal had recently upheld the High Court’s decision, declaring the housing levy unconstitutional. A three-judge bench consisting of Justices Lydia Achode, John Mativo, and Mwaniki Gachoka ruled that the imposition of the housing levy by the government lacked a legal framework and targeted a specific section of the Kenyan population.
In response to the Court of Appeal’s decision, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has lodged an appeal at the Supreme Court, seeking a review of the ruling.
