Ruto beseeches Okiya Omtatah not to challenge Housing Fund in court

President William Ruto on Sunday pleaded with activist and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah not to challenge the proposed housing levy contribution under the Finance Bill, 2023 in court.

The proposal wants employees to pay three per cent of their monthly salaries to support President Ruto’s ambitious plan to provide affordable housing to Kenyans.

But it has been met with opposition from a section of Kenyans, with some calling for the levy to be made a voluntary contribution. Among them is Senator Omtatah, who has warned the head of state against what he calls being misled by his allies.

During Sunday’s thanksgiving service at the Busia Stadium where Dr Ruto was in attendance, the outspoken senator, who is no stranger to petitioning government decisions, told the president that the bill is not only good for Kenyans but also unconstitutional.

"The Finance Bill has both good and bad things therein. Let not these people here lie to you that everything is fine. The negative things therein, many go against the constitution," Omtatah said.

"Let people not fool you here, let people not deceive you. There are issues in that Bill where even the Supreme Court has pronounced itself that ought to be honoured… You are my friend Mr President but the Constitution is a bigger friend to me," he added.

He thereafter sent a tweet saying he has already prepared a petition to challenge the contentious bill.

But in response, President Ruto defended his proposal and urged "rich" Kenyans to bear with him, saying the affordable housing project would provide jobs to many youths across the country.

“You rich people will have to bear with me on this one, let us deal with the hustlers so that they also have something of theirs and Kenya can be inclusive. I want you to help me talk to your senator, Mr Omtatah, please,” he told faithful before turning to address the senator.

“You want to take me to court and all I’m doing is creating jobs for these people, don’t you want them to get jobs? Busia people, please talk to this man to go easy on the court matters,” Ruto added, also referring to Omtatah as his friend.

Analysts have criticised the government's plan saying the proposed taxes on housing would be hard to implement given that the first one failed and also considering the hard economic times that Kenyans are in.