Workers in the water and sanitation sector now want the government to rescind its decision on Housing Levy.
In a statement, the workers under the umbrella of Kenya Union of Water and Sewerage Employees (KUWASE) said they are already hurting and in pain to put food on the table due to the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The workers termed it as insensitive, the government's proposal to impose a housing levy without a commensurate increment in the struggling workers’ pay.
“It has been long since the government reviewed salaries for the workers because NHIF, NSSF and other taxes have been on the increase with the same stagnant salary that workers have been earning over the years,” Wycliffe Onditi said.
Onditi is the KUWASE Nairobi Water branch secretary.
The union faulted the government over the introduction of new taxes and levies on essential goods and services amidst hard economic times.
Onditi called on the government to instead find alternative means of sustaining the economy without burdening struggling workers with punitive taxes.
Last month, President William Ruto said civil servants will start contributing 3 per cent of their income to a Housing Fund.
He said this was part of a plan the State will soon introduce.
Ruto said the contribution will help civil servants purchase houses built under the Affordable Housing project.
"To enable many Kenyans to buy houses under the affordable housing project, we have a housing fund to which we want every Kenyan to contribute 3 per cent of their income. If you earn Sh10,000, 3 per cent is Sh300 every month goes towards the fund," Ruto said.
He said that Kenyans will contribute the funds monthly.
