President William Ruto has told employed Kenyans to stop misleading other jobless Kenyans when it comes to the proposed Housing Fund.
Speaking during the SMEs, Cooperatives and Revenue Expo in Embu University, Ruto said the employed people are opposing the Housing Fund because they have an alternative.
"Wewe kwanza hauna mshahara, yule akona mshahara anakuambia upinge mambo ya Housing Fund, wewe unapinga umsaidie yeye asilipe na wewe ukose nafasi ya mtoto wako kupata kazi... Wacheni utapeli," he said.
(You don't have a monthly income, yet employed Kenyans who have salaries are asking you to join them in opposing the Housing Fund. If you do, you will miss an opportunity for your child to get employment).
The President urged the employed Kenyans who earn a monthly salary to allow others to benefit from the project.
"Sisi ambao tumebarikiwa na tukona mshahara tuwe na utu ili mtoto wa mwenzako apate ajira," he said.
He added that every Kenyan will benefit from the project and they should embrace it.
"The real motivation behind the housing project is the jobs we are going to create for the young people of Kenya. In every house, we will need five youths to help in construction," he said.
Ruto introduced the Housing levy in the Finance Bill 2023, saying it will be mandatory for every Kenyan to contribute towards the fund.
He said salaried Kenyans will be deducted 3 per cent of their salary which will be matched by employers but not exceed Sh5,000 of their salaries to the Housing Fund to support the affordable housing project.
