A section of human rights activists in the North Rift region has thrown its weight behind a proposal by the government to introduce a housing fund levy.
Led by Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (CHRD) Director Kipkorir Ng’etich, the activist says the plan will help ensure more Kenyans have access to low-income houses.
In an interview with Uasin Gishu News on Friday, May 26, 2023, Ng’etich said with the Affordable Housing plan that the Kenya Kwanza government has, many Kenyans without a place they can call home will benefit.
“We thank President William Ruto for initiating a plan that will ensure civil servants get affordable houses and Kenyans get a home,” said the human rights activists.
He also hit out at the opposition that has rejected the Housing Fund plan.
According to the CHRD director, the opposition should allow the government to execute the mandate that was given to them by a majority of Kenyans in a free and fair general election held in August 2022.
“As human rights activists, we ask politicians to stop politicizing plans by the government that seek to improve the lives of Kenyans,” Ng’etich said.
He also rallied Kenyans to fully support the Housing Fund plan and other policies that the government seeks to introduce.
Woo investors
The Treasury has since proposed that every salaried Kenyan be deducted 3 per cent monthly to fund the affordable housing plan.
Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga on Thursday said funds collected from the kitty will help the government secure financial support from investors willing to construct houses.
He further noted that the highest-earning Kenyan will only pay Ksh2,500 for the Housing Fund, with most Kenyans paying a maximum of Ksh1,000.
“When we put this all together as a country, we will be able to go out to the market and tell investors that the government is providing land at no cost for Kenyans to own homes, build houses in mass, give me the keys and go. If I don’t have the housing fund, they will refuse to build,” the PS said.
