- On Friday, the Court of Appeal in a ruling said the mandatory Housing Levy was illegal.
- However, President William Ruto declared that his government would be challenging the appellate court's decision.
Image: REUBEN KIBOREK
Mogotio Member of Parliament Reuben Kiborek has warned the Judiciary that they risk facing budgetary cuts if they fail to cooperate on the Housing Levy.
Speaking on Sunday, the legislator said the Judiciary is blocking beneficial projects to Kenyans through its rulings.
The Mogotio MP vowed to push Parliament to slash the Judiciary budget if they do not comply with the Housing Levy.
He said that Kenyans are living in dilapidated houses and young people are unemployed.
"Sisi Parliament tulipewa nguvu moja ya kutengeneza budget. Bwana chairman (Ndindi Nyoro) nataka nikuombe tunapotengeneza budget yenye inakuja, Judiciary ikikataa kubehave tunakata budget yao yote mpaka watembee na baiskeli town ndio wajue maisha ya wagonjwa inamaana," he said.
"Tunyonge hiyo budget yao yote wakue wanaomba omba maji wakitembea na miguu ndio wajue vile wakenya ambao hawana kazi wanaishi."
This loosely translates to: "MPs in Parliament were given the power to create the budget. I want to ask you, chair of the budget Ndindi Nyoro, that when we create the upcoming budget if the Judiciary refuses to behave, let's slash their entire budget until they walk and ride bicycles in town for them to understand what the jobless Kenyans experience every day. We shall cut their budget so that they are left begging for water to feel how jobless Kenyans live".
On Friday, the Court of Appeal in a ruling said the mandatory Housing Levy was illegal.
The appellate Judges said if they affirm the constitutional invalidity of the challenged laws, then some far-reaching decisions that will have been undertaken may not be reversed.
They said it is in the public interest that the appeal first be heard.
The Attorney General and the National Treasury moved to the appellate court after the High Court found the deductions to be unconstitutional.
They told the court that the suspension would lead to a massive budgetary crisis and confusion in the country.
However, President William Ruto declared that his government would be challenging the appellate court's 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."
The President said the Housing projects across the country have absorbed various skilled Kenyans into the working bracket enabling them to earn a living.