- He said that it is not an issue of ensuring affordable housing but rather creating business for commercial interest.
- On Friday, the Court of Appeal declined to suspend orders barring the state from deducting house levies from Kenyans.
Image: FILE
Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has reacted to the recent court ruling over the Housing levy where the Court of Appeal declined to suspend orders barring the state from deducting the levy from Kenyans.
"In this country, we are ruled by the rule of law. We have a Constitution that has set up three arms of the government. Therefore each of the government has its specifics," Olekina said.
"I have heard what the President has said. We must maintain the rule of law. The public doesn't want affordable housing because the land is free, and they're deducting money from us."
Olekina spoke during an interview on Citizen TV.
He added that the issue of public participation is not adhered to because what people say is not taken into consideration.
He said that it is not an issue of ensuring affordable housing but rather creating business for commercial interest.
On Friday, the Court of Appeal declined to suspend orders barring the state from deducting house levies from Kenyans.
Justices Lydia Achode, John Mativo and Gatembu Kairu said that the public interest lies in awaiting the determination of the appeal.
"This is because if the stay sought is granted at the stage, should we affirm the challenged decision, then some far-reaching decisions that will have been undertaken under the challenged laws may not be reversible," they said.
"Public interest in our view tilts favor of in not granting the stay or the suspension sought."
They said that it's in the public interest that the appeals first be heard.
This meant that the housing levy remained suspended as declared by the High Court.
However, President William Ruto said they would be appealing the decision.
He defended the housing programme describing it as the cornerstone of his plan to create employment for jobless Kenyans.
"We are going to appeal the decision. We will make the requisite law so that our agenda to create employment for jobless youths who have finished school but have nowhere to go is realized through the housing projects," the President said.
"It is the first time in the Republic of Kenya that we have an administration that has a clear and demonstrable plan to create jobs for millions of young Kenyans."