File image of President Ruto launching the Affordable Housing Project in Kanduyi, Bungoma County
President William Ruto has directed affordable housing contractors and workers to continue with their work, despite a court order halting the deduction of the housing levy.
Speaking on Thursday, February 1, President Ruto the affordable workers not to be worried about the project.
“I saw yesterday or the day before, some contractors are telling people that there are issues 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,” said Ruto.
The Head of State noted that the program has so far employed over 100,000 people and targets to employ 500,000 youths by December 2024.
“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,” Ruto added.
His remarks come after Azimio MPs wrote to the Parliamentary Service Commission demanding a refund of the money that was deducted from their salaries towards the Housing Levy.
The Court of Appeal on Friday last week declined to extend an order allowing the government to continue collecting the housing levy from employees and employers.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Lydia Achode, John Mativo, and Mwaniki Gachoka ruled that the government’s decision to impose the housing levy did not follow the stipulated framework and was therefore unconstitutional.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has however moved to the Supreme Court to appeal the decision.
“The national assembly and the speaker of the national assembly being dissatisfied with the decision of the court of appeal intend to appeal to the Supreme Court against the whole ruling,” a notice of the appeal stated.
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