Wetangula urges Ruto to proceed with affordable housing plans, ignore concerns on methodology

Speaking in Kakamega on Sunday, the Speaker urged President Ruto to push forward, as all developed countries in the world have made such hard decisions. 

"This transformation will always have some pain. What is important is the focus and the goals to which we have set ourselves as a country. That there will be pain before there is gain,” Wetangula stated. 

He told the President to ignore concerns that his approach to construct houses using funds from the housing levy is wrong. 

“Those who were opposing your plans now are saying that it is right but the methodology is wrong. Ignore the methodology, focus on the concept, since they say the concept is right.”

Wetangula referred to Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s recent pronouncement that he was not opposed to the affordable housing project, but its execution.

“There is no problem with the affordable housing but the issue is the way it is being executed, you are being stubborn and that cannot happen in a democracy,” he said.

Raila added that the project was not new, claiming to be one of the leaders who crafted it during his time in the Cabinet.

“I am the one who brought up that idea when I was a minister of public works and housing. I went to China, Korea and Singapore and I have the plans. Tailor-make each plan for the different regions not one size fits all...I know the secret but let them fail first,” stated the Azimio boss.

In a ruling delivered on Friday 26th January 2024, Appellate Court judges Lydia Achode, John Mativo and Paul Gachoka maintained that the Housing Levy was unconstitutional, saying it 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. 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,” reads the court ruling in part.

President William Ruto has since maintained that the court injunctions against the affordable housing program will not deter his administration from implementing the Kenya Kwanza pet project.

Speaking in Bungoma County on February 1, where he commissioned one such project, President Ruto directed contractors to continue with the construction works despite the court seemingly slowing down the wheels of the housing program.

"The Constitution of Kenya mandates me to explain if there is a problem if we cannot raise money to do housing. We have a plan on how to raise money for housing; I have no explanation to give. This program must move forward for the benefit of Kenyans across the country," he said.