Affordable Housing Bill sails through Second Reading after 141 MPs support, 58 oppose

President William Ruto’s pet project of affordable housing on Tuesday moved a step closer from being realized after it sailed through the second reading in the National Assembly.

Kenya Kwanza leaning MPs toed the line and followed the command by President Ruto and voted for the Bill to sail through.

Efforts by the opposition MPs to thwart the passage of the Bill failed as the government side carried the day getting 141 votes against 58.

Pleas from Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi to delay the debate of the Bill at the third reading stage were also not successful as the Speaker ruled that the debate will go on as scheduled on Wednesday afternoon.

“Due to the many amendments that have been proposed by various members on the controversial Bill, I would request that you give us time, so that we debate the Bill on Thursday to allow as many members as possible to bring amendments,” the Ugunja MP pleaded.

However, the request was opposed by Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw’ah who asked the Speaker to allow for members to propose amendments, but insisted the need for the Bill not to be delayed.

“We should not delay the debate on this Bill, any amendments can be proposed and we can even have a supplementary order paper, but this debate must come tomorrow,” stated Ichung’wah.

“I want to see which MP is going to oppose this Bill, I want to see which MP is going to deny his electorates an opportunity to get a job, because this Bill is about creation of jobs, it’s about jobs for our people.”

Several amendments have been proposed to the Bill including scrubbing the 10% deposit that was required for one to own a house.

“There was a fear that these houses will be taken by the rich at the expense of the people that could benefit from this affordable housing. And therefore we will be proposing to have one ID or one KRA Pin carry one house so that we do not have people taking advantage of this particular program and going to invest in them at the expense of the hustlers that are benefiting from this programme,” said Finance committee chair Kimani Kuria.