State turns to NGAO officers in pushing for housing levy

The government has its focus on the national government administration officers who are now expected to provide aggressive civic education to the public on the proposed housing levy as the debate rages on.

The officers, given their national deployment, are the single-largest government machinery at its disposal with the ability to penetrate the grassroots countrywide.

And to prompt this new approach, the Interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo on Tuesday held a consultative meeting with all the regional and County Commissioners from across the country in Nairobi.

The PS noted that as consultations continue over the 3 percent housing levy proposed by the government gather momentum, there is an urgent need to raise awareness and disseminate the correct information about the programme.

Dr Omollo observed that raising awareness of the programme will ensure the citizens actively take part in the conversation.

During the meeting, the PS urged the administrators to relay the right messages from the housing levy proposal as part of the officers' mandate of communicating government policies and programmes at the grassroots level.

"An informed citizenry contributes and participates meaningfully in national dialogues," Dr Omollo said.

"The now loud conversation around the 3 percent housing levy proposed by the Government requires exactness of factual particulars," the PS added.

He noted that to raise awareness and disseminate correct information about the programme to wananchi, the involvement of local authorities under the National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) is key.

"Today ( Tuesday), at the Kenya School of Government, we met with all Regional and County Commissioners to underscore their mandate of communicating Government policies and programmes at the grassroots," he said.

The proposed housing levy has sparked debate countrywide amongst various stakeholders.

Housing PS Charles Hinga on Monday appealed for a sober discussion on the housing fund saying some of those fighting it were supporting it during campaigns last year.

This was directed to the Azimio coalition that had the programme in its manifesto.

During one of his campaign rallies in Kisumu, then-Azimio presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga said he would revive the programme that was shot down after being proposed by former president Uhuru Kenyatta.

Speaking on Monday during an interview with Spice FM, PS Hinga said the Azimio coalition and its presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga had voiced their support for the housing levy during the campaigns and shouldn’t change their tune just because they lost the elections.

According to the PS, a majority of Kenyans live in rental houses not because they want but because they can't afford to own homes.

"We may not disagree on how we want to solve a problem but we must agree we have a problem. 4 million Kenyans live in informal settlements where they lack basic services," he said.

"Behind the program, behind the noise there are people with testimonials. When you believe in something, you will help the likes of the 55 homeowners from Ngokomka who own houses in Parkroad," the PS said during the show.

He said the government will enforce transparency in the management of the funds adding that the funds can't go into the consolidated fund.