A crow perishing with thirst saw a pitcher, and hoping to find water, flew to it with delight. When he reached it, he discovered to his grief that it contained so little water that he could not possibly get at it.
He tried everything he could think of to reach the water, but all his efforts were in vain. At last, he collected as many stones as he could carry and dropped them one by one with his beak into the pitcher, until he brought the water within his reach and thus saved his life.
The three per cent proposed housing levy in the Finance Bill, 2023 is a tax that will be levied on all individuals and businesses with a taxable income of Sh240,000 or more. The tax is intended to raise funds for the construction of affordable housing in Kenya.
The levy will be payable on the individual's or business's gross income, and will be collected by the Kenya Revenue Authority. The levy is expected to raise Sh50 billion per year, which will be used to fund the construction of 500,000 affordable housing units.
The levy has been met with mixed reactions. Some people believe that it is a necessary measure to address the housing crisis in Kenya, while others believe that it is a regressive tax that will disproportionately burden low-income earners. The government has defended the levy, saying that it is a fair and equitable way to raise funds for affordable housing.
Affordable housing is a major issue in Kenya, with an estimated 2 million people living in slums. The government has made some efforts to address the issue, but progress has been slow.
There are a number of factors that contribute to the lack of affordable housing in Kenya. One is the high cost of land. Land prices in Kenya have been rising steadily in recent years, making it difficult for low-income earners to buy land. Another factor is the high cost of construction. Building materials in Kenya are expensive, and the cost of labour has also been rising.
The government has taken some steps to address the issue of affordable housing. In 2013, the government launched the National Housing Corporation, which is tasked with providing affordable housing to Kenyans. The NHC has built a number of affordable housing units, but the number of units built has been relatively small.
The government has also provided subsidies to developers who build affordable housing. However, the subsidies have not been enough to make affordable housing affordable for most Kenyans.
There are a number of challenges that need to be addressed in order to increase the supply of affordable housing in Kenya. One challenge is the high cost of land. The government needs to find ways to make land more affordable for low-income earners. Another challenge is the high cost of construction. The government needs to find ways to reduce the cost of building materials and labour.
The government also needs to improve the planning process for affordable housing. The current planning process is complex and time-consuming, which makes it difficult to build affordable housing quickly. The planning process must be streamlined to make it easier to get approvals for affordable housing projects.
Affordable housing is a critical issue in Kenya. The government needs to take bold steps to address the issue. By addressing the challenges of land, construction, planning and private sector participation, the government can increase the supply of affordable housing and make it more affordable for Kenyans.
In addition to the government's efforts, there are a number of NGOs that are working to provide affordable housing in Kenya. These NGOs are building affordable housing units, providing financial assistance to low-income earners, and advocating policies that will increase the supply of affordable housing.
The work of the government and NGOs is making a difference, but there is still a long way to go. The government and NGOs need to continue to work together to address the issue of affordable housing in Kenya. By working together, they can make a real difference in the lives of millions of Kenyans.
