Ruto reiterates housing levy to be mandatory

Speaking during a thanksgiving service in Busia county, President Ruto said that the ambitious plan will aid in creating jobs for the Kenyan youth and create a steady cash flow in the economy.

He censured those trying to befoul the contribution proposal, noting that there is need to lift Kenyans at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

"There are some people trying to create chaos around the Housing Fund. I said that those who have a payslip should contribute something small so that the jobless people also have a payslip," he said.

"We have 5 million unemployed youth and they are not illiterate they have studied and we have a responsibility as a country to give them jobs and that is why I am urging you that let's not deceive each other."

The Head of State further claimed that he was approached by a teacher who asked him on why they should contribute to the housing levy yet it will not benefit him in the long run.

In his reply, Ruto said it is unfair for jobless Kenyans to pay taxes to benefit employed citizens while they do not get their fair share of government services.

"A teacher came to me and asked me 'Mr.President, you are disturbing us. You want me to contribute Ksh.900 to the housing so that somebody who does not have a job gets one. How is it my business?" said Ruto.

"I told him 'Mwalimu, you know the person who does not have a job is the one who is paying taxes? Do you know he is the one who is paying your salary and mine?".

He said that he has incorporated a plethora of avenues which will provide jobs for Kenyans in the 2023 budget, among them ICT, Afro-processing and Hosing.

As of now, he added, 42 county governments have already identified parcels of land where the units will be built.