- Ruto’s premier affordable housing project and social health insurance scheme have faced hurdles after several petitions were filed opposing their implementation.
- The housing levy for instance had come into effect in June last year through clause 43 of the Finance Act, 2023 but the courts declared it unconstitutional.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto has claimed some individuals who move to court to oppose government policies later use the court injunctions they obtain to solicit kickbacks from state departments.
Speaking on Thursday at State House, Nairobi, during the launch of the fourth Medium Term Plan, the President termed the habit a “tragedy”.
“That tragedy that we have is that even those who go and challenge government policy in our courts, you cannot believe it that after they have obtained stays and they have obtained injunctions, against government policy…they have the audacity, they have the temerity to come and look for government officials and tell them ‘if you talk to us nicely, we are going to remove the injunction’,” Ruto said.
“I mean, what level of impunity is that?” the President posed.
Ruto’s premier affordable housing project and the social health insurance programme have faced hurdles in the corridors of justice after several petitions were filed opposing their implementation.
The housing levy for instance had come into effect in June last year through clause 43 of the Finance Act, 2023 but the courts declared it unconstitutional and discriminatory as only salaried Kenyans were supposed to make contributions.
Petitioners told the court the programme fell short of a myriad of constitutional provisions including lack of public participation and inclusivity on grounds that it isolated Kenyans based on their social strata.
The government, however, pushed back, filed appeals and made the necessary amendments to the impugned clauses through Parliamentary.
On Monday, Ruto assented to the Affordable Housing Bill effectively making it an Act which grants the government the leeway to continue collecting the 1.5 per cent housing levy meant to finance the affordable housing project.
In his speech on Thursday, the President said it’s paramount that institutions tasked with oversight and enforcement are strengthened to guard against derailment of government policies.
“And that is why it is our commitment that we need to enhance the Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Office of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Authority and the DCI to make sure that we have the requisite capacities to protect the resources and the finances of the people of Kenya,” he said.