ODM Politician Justifies Supporting Affordable Housing Bill
On Thursday, Senator Tom Ojienda from Kisumu elaborated on his support for the updated version of the Affordable Housing Bill, despite hailing from an area where many leaders strongly opposed it.
The legislator, in explaining his choice, highlighted that Affordable Housing formed a crucial part of the agenda put forth by his party leader, Raila Odinga.
“My party has a framework in the ODM manifesto, Affordable Housing is one of the pillars and you know very well that the party leader spoke well about the project,” explained Ojienda.
He further stated that his backing of the project stemmed from the assurance of employment opportunities for individuals from his county, which would be ensured by legislation.
Ojienda stated that any Kenyan is eligible to apply for a house, with the government affirming that allocation will follow a first-come, first-served approach.
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He further explained that the government’s efforts were directed towards ensuring the completion of Affordable Housing projects in every county.
Furthermore, Ojienda stated that in certain counties like Homabay and Nairobi, several projects were nearing their final stages of completion.
His argument also revolved around the notion that the project aimed to rejuvenate the deteriorated estates across the country.
However, both the ODM party and the broader Azimio Coalition objected to the bill before its passage, highlighting concerns that it would place a significant tax burden on the Kenyan populace.
Leading up to the 2022 presidential election, Azimio’s manifesto indicated Raila’s intention, if elected President, to create a Housing Fund aimed at aiding County Governments in their project development endeavors.
The coalition also sought to exclude construction materials from Value Added Tax (VAT), a measure intended to reduce the expense of construction within the nation.
Ojienda is among the ODM dissidents who were ousted from the party due to their support for President William Ruto, but they were later reinstated by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal.
ODM Politician Justifies Supporting Affordable Housing Bill