• Ruto said that the creation of employment is what's driving him to introduce the plans to Kenyans.
•Raila said then that such a fund will be a key aspect of spurring the development of massive housing units across the country.
Image: PCS
Senior counsel Ahmednassir Abdullahi has urged Kenyans to give Azimio la Umoja coalition leader Raila Odinga credit for being the original father behind the housing levy.
In a statement on Sunday, the lawyer said that the opposition leader has always been passionate about the levy.
"Kenyans please...please...give Hon Raila credit. He was always passionate about the Housing levy," Ahmednassir said.
He also noted that President William Ruto should also give credit where it is due as it was Raila idea, but he is implementing the plan
"President William Ruto must give credit where it is due. Raila is the father of this idea," Ahmednassir said.
"The Housing levy was Hon Raila's brainchild. President William Ruto is just implementing a good idea Raila came up with, " he added.
On May 18, 2023, Raila who was then Azimio's presidential candidate announced that he will introduce the elusive housing levy to address the housing shortage in the country should he get elected in the August polls.
President Uhuru Kenyatta-led administration had proposed a mandatory levy but it met stiff opposition from other stakeholders led by the Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) and eventually declared the levy voluntary.
Under the levy, Kenyans in formal employment would have to contribute 1.5 percent of their gross salary as a housing levy
But Raila said then that such a fund will be a key aspect of spurring the development of massive housing units across the country.
He noted that he had engaged the COTU in a bid to encourage them to embrace the housing levy.
“I have talked to the head of COTU, Francis Atwoli and he has assured me that they will cooperate with us, the Azimio government when we go into the office,” he said in Kisumu during the groundbreaking of Makasembo Estate where LAPFUND is set to construct modern houses
If elected, Odinga said he will roll out massive housing development in the country to address the gaps currently witnessed in the country.
At the moment, the Kenya Kwanza government is facing criticism from the opposition as well as the public over the high cost of living.
The government's move to which it will be mandatory for salaried citizens to contribute, has received a backlash from some Kenyans who want the agenda dropped.
The levy seeks to tax 3 per cent of workers' monthly basic salary to fund Ruto's affordable housing project.
However, President Ruto said that the creation of employment is what's driving him to introduce the plans to Kenyans.
"The real motivation behind it (housing project) is the jobs we are going to create for the young people of Kenya. Ni kuhakikisha kwamba vijana wanapata ajira (It's to ensure the youth are employed)," he said last Friday.
Ruto said the government will need five youths for every house to be constructed.
He criticised those opposing the plan and the proposed levy.