President William Ruto has urged Members of Parliament to expedite the passage of the Affordable Housing Bill, 2023, expressing his desire to sign it into law to stimulate job creation and foster economic growth.
During his visit to Nyeri County on Friday, President Ruto emphasized that the proposed legislation should encounter minimal obstacles, asserting that it holds the potential to generate employment opportunities for thousands of youths involved in housing projects.
Addressing the MPs directly, Ruto stated, “I am telling MPs on the Affordable Housing Bill: Let’s finish on it and pass it by Tuesday. Many of our youths have no jobs. Some are already on the sites. We need to pass the law for them to continue as I have nowhere else to take them.” He added, “You have heard it here from the people of Nyeri: They want housing. To the MPs, we tell them: ‘The voice of the people is the voice of God. Listen to them.’”
Accompanied by his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, the President urged the present MPs, who had participated in the launch of an affordable housing project in Nyeri Town and a water project in Mathira constituency, to ensure the swift passage of the Bill.
The Affordable Housing Bill aims to codify the contentious housing levy into law, aligning with court orders. Parliament initiated debate on the bill on Thursday evening, with the second reading scheduled for Tuesday.
The High Court had previously ruled that the 1.5 percent levy on an employee’s gross salary, intended to fund housing construction, was unconstitutional. The three-judge bench found the levy discriminatory and in violation of equal principles, noting the government’s failure to provide a legal framework for the tax in accordance with constitutional provisions.
