• According to Kalonzo, this will be done via his first Executive Order, as head of state.
• He claimed that the fund is being used to facilitate illegal activities.
Image: KALONZO MUSYOKA/X/ FILE
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka now says that the first thing he will do if elected President of Kenya is to revoke the Housing Levy.
According to Kalonzo, this will be done via his first Executive Order, as head of state.
He claimed that the fund was being used to facilitate illegal activities.
"As President, my first Executive Order will be to repeal the Housing Levy, which is a Slush Fund. #MapemaNdioBest," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Kalonzo insists that he must be on the presidential ballot in 2027.
His remarks come a few days after the former vice president said that the fund was a burden to Kenyans, who are already struggling.
He also said that after the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court's decision that the Levy is unconstitutional, he expects to see Kenyans get refunds for the months they have been deducted.
“The Court of Appeal judgment ruling the Housing Levy unconstitutional strengthens my faith in the rule of law. This Slash Fund has imposed a burden on already overburdened Kenyans. I expect the illegal deduction to be refunded immediately,” he said.
On Friday last week, the Court of Appeal declined to suspend orders barring the state from deducting housing levies from Kenyans.
The appellate judges Lydia Achode, John Mativo and Mwaniki Gachoka 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.
The judges in declining the state's application, said public interest lies in awaiting the determination of the appeal.
The government in persuading the court to suspend the High Court's decision said they risked being sued for breach of contracts signed in its effort to implement the affordable housing project.
But the appellate Judges said no single contract was placed in court by the state to support the claim.
The Attorney General and the National Treasury had moved to the appellate court after the High Court found the deductions to be unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly's joint committee on Finance and National Planning and that of Housing and Urban Planning have been receiving views from Kenyans and other stakeholders since January 17, across 19 selected counties on the Affordable Housing Bill.
The bill sponsored by Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah seeks to provide a legal framework for the establishment Affordable Housing Fund.
The public views-gathering exercise will come to a close on Wednesday.