'I have authority from Kenyans and God,' President Ruto vows to continue with affordable housing projects

President William Ruto has once again asserted that his administration's affordable housing programs will continue as planned despite the Court of Appeal's Friday decision not to suspend a High Court order declaring the housing levy unconstitutional.

Speaking in Kiutine, Meru County on Friday, Ruto emphasized that despite the ruling, he has received enough public support to proceed with the housing programs he says will create thousands of jobs for Kenyan youth.

He likened the purported public support to receiving a directive from God.

"Housing mnasema iendelee ama isiendelee? Wale wanasema housing iendelee nione kwa mikono. Si nyinyi ndio kusema Kenya hii. Kuna public participation kuliko hii yenu?  Amri yenu ndio amri ya Mungu. Kwa hivyo mimi niko na amri ya kutosha na nitasongesha (housing) mbele," said Ruto.   

In the Court of Appeal's Friday ruling, the bench maintained that the Housing Levy was introduced without a legal framework.

“The trial Court held that the Housing Levy was introduced without a legal framework. It also held that the levy was targeting a section of Kenyans. In our view, public interest lies in awaiting the determination of the appeal," reads the court ruling in part.

"This is because if the stay sought is granted at this stage, should the appellate Court affirm the impugned decision, then some far-reaching decisions that will have been undertaken pursuant to the impugned laws may not be reversible.”

The Housing levy debacle has seen members of the ruling Kenya Kwanza government and opposition-allied legislators bump heads over its intended introduction.

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga  has since urged all employers to stop remitting the housing levy in compliance with the said High Court ruling.

Ruto has however insisted that the Housing plan is a cardinal pillar of his administration.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has likewise urged the Judiciary to consider the broader societal impact of its decision, arguing that the levy is enabling the government to build houses en masse in order to alleviate Kenya's housing shortage.