President Ruto: I will lead in contributing housing levy

Speaking during a thanksgiving service in Kakamega, President Ruto noted that he will remain firm in realizing his plan to provide affordable houses to Kenyans living in deplorable conditions.

According to President Ruto, the plan will be the solution to the country’s housing, employment and manufacturing challenges.

"Nimesema nitakua mstari wa mbele ya kutoa hio 3% ndio tupange ajira ya watoto wa Kenya. Tukisema tutoe 3% ya mshahara tunalipwa na hawa wananchi kwa ajili ya housing vijana milioni moja wapate ajira. Mtu anakwama na 3% kwani huna utu?" he posed.

"Na yule anayeitisha hio 3% ni yule amekuajiri [na] anakulipa 97% anasema ubaki na hiyo hawa watoto tuwapangie ajira."

The president reffered to the housing levy that was initially set at 3%, but thereafter reduced to 1.5% before being passed in the National Assembly.

Working with a blueprint from the model Singapore used to provide decent houses for their citizens, President Ruto added that Kenya must also follow suit and tighten the belt to actualize the plan despite being opposed by a section of Kenyans.

"Singapore was a slum just like Kibera and today they are a first world nation because they planned their housing. If you want us to be like Singapore or even better we must make the decisions they made," he said.

"We must make tough decisions like Singapore did."

The housing levy contribution by employers and employees was reduced from the proposed 3 to 1.5 per cent and will take effect as soon as the President ascends to the Finance Bill 2023 once it's approved by Parliament.

The bill sailed through the Second Reading stage in the National Assembly on June 14, with 176 Members of Parliament supporting it against 81 who opposed it.