We as Azimio Council have called for withdrawal of this proposal in its entirety, and that position has not changed.
Whether (housing levy) is a half per cent, one per cent, it is a bad idea.
The issue was not the percentage; it is a bad idea and we have explained the reasons.
Kenya Kwanza administration should be reminded that when the proposal first came up during the Jubilee regime, they were very emphatic in rejecting it.
This proposal is not new, it is an old proposal. The same reasons why they rejected it have not changed.
If I am an agricultural worker in a flower farm in Laikipia, why do you want me to subsidise housing in Nairobi?
If I work for a flower exporter in Rumuruti why should I be contributing to the building of houses in Nairobi or Mombasa? Where is the benefit for me in Rumuruti?
If I am a government employee at the border post in Mandera, or the police woman posted there, why should I be contributing for a house in Komarock? Where is the fairness in that?
I am glad they are admitting there are no structures for the Housing Fund, which is one of our other major criticisms.
You are creating a fund, we don’t know who is to manage it or how. What are the benchmark returns? You are saying it is a saving and people will get a return. What are the benchmark returns? None of those issues are clear.
Why don’t you think through it? Don’t bring a half-baked idea. Think through it in its entirety before presenting it.
Kenya is not going anywhere. The Finance Bill will still come again. Except if you are rushing to find money for unclear purposes.
The fact that you are willing to leave the employer out of it means you have also realised that asking the employer to contribute was a mistake.
I suppose it is a good thing if they are letting the employer off the hook. my understanding is probably one of the things agreed when President Ruto met with Kepsa was to leave employers out.
Azimio Economic Council member spoke to the Star
