Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has said teachers will be the most beneficiaries in the housing program.
Speaking during the laying of Foundation stone of the Science Complex building at Nairobi School, the CS said teachers are living in poorly constructed homes and should take advantage of the program.
"Most of the houses our teachers live in are not in the best condition, now that their employer (the government) will also contribute towards it," he said.
Machogu also told the teachers that the housing levy is a stepping stone toward owning homes.
His statement comes amidst backlash of the housing levy, with the opposition saying the move will harm Kenyan's pockets.
Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga said the contribution of 3 per cent toward the project will be mandatory.
The PS said this will ensure the government confidently get investors for the housing plan, with the assurance that they will be able to pay them after construction is done.
"The housing fund is a mandatory contribution by employer and employee... Then as a country, we are able to go out to the market and call investors and tell them to bring their money, build houses en mass and when they finish building, give us the keys, get paid, and go," he said.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said the government should listen to Kenyans and let them decide on the Housing Levy.
Sifuna said the people are living hand to mouth and cannot be forced to save an amount they don't have.
"We don't look for jobs to pay taxes, we look for jobs to improve our financial standing to help our families come out of poverty and feed our children, take the levy to the people and let them decide on whether they want to pay or not," he said.
