President William Ruto has asked leaders not to twist and criticise his affordable housing plans.
The President on Thursday said his plans on affordable housing have been clear since the campaign period and no one should make it appear like a new concept for purposes of frustrating it.
"I did my campaign with many leaders and these leaders heard me loud and clear when I said there is a plan for housing and it was public," Ruto said.
"So don't betray me now when we are in the middle. Sasa msinigeuke hapa katikati, kwani mlidhani ilikuwa siasa ya maneno na kuongea tu porojo? he posed.
(So don't betray me in the course of the journey. Did you think it was just politicking and idle talk?)
Ruto urged leaders to be truthful and let Kenyans know the plans they campaigned for.
"My leaders, I’m urging you to be truthful. We went to Kenyans and told them we have plans for housing which will provide employment. We will also help them to own houses, why are you now turning your backs? Ruto asked.
He was speaking on Thursday during the groundbreaking ceremony of affordable housing in South C, Nairobi.
The Kenya Kwanza government has been criticised on its plans to introduce housing fund.
Last month, Ruto announced that civil servants will start paying three per cent of their income to the Housing Fund to create a pool of funds for the affordable housing project.
Employers will contribute a similar percentage towards the venture.
Mixed reactions from Kenyans followed as many questioned the mandatory housing ’tax’.
However, State Department for Housing and Urban Development Permanent Secretary Charles Hinga shed light on how the Housing fund will work.
He said the salary deduction proposed to facilitate the Housing Fund would be voluntary for civil servants.
"It is voluntary and not mandatory for a civil servant. But we realise we didn’t explain to Kenyans at that level of in-depth,” he said.
The President also clarified that the three per cent contributed from one's income towards the housing fund is not tax.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony in South C, the President said the money deducted belongs to the people of Kenya.
"The shillings contributed will become thousands and millions and will be used to construct affordable housing across the country," he said.
