President Ruto: 3% Housing Levy is “Mortgage for Hustlers”
President William Ruto has vigorously defended his controversial 3% housing levy, describing it as a mortgage for con artists.
During the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed Bellevue Park Residences affordable housing development in South C, Nairobi, the president refuted claims that the levy was a tax by describing it as a contribution and a saving.
President Ruto rebuked critics of his controversial levy, stating that his critics were themselves beneficiaries of mortgages and were now attempting to deny low-income workers the chance to live in decent housing.
“Sio lazima uwe na mapato kiwango Fulani… Tunataka hata yule mtu ambaye analipa rent ya shilingi elfu tano aweze kulipa mortage baada ya miaka kumi na tano awe na nyumba yake,” said Ruto.
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“The housing fund contribution you make is not a tax…sio ushuru, ni pesa yako, si pesa ya Ushuru. These shillings will become thousands, millions, and billions of dollars, and we will use them to build affordable housing, the president added.
The Head of State accused critics of his housing levy proposal. Of misleading Kenyans and ultimately seeking to deny Kenyans with low incomes the opportunity to own homes.
“Every leader, legislator, and member of the legislative council has a mortgage. Sasa tafadhali tupange ya hao wananchi tutapanga hapo kwa housing fund. Kama wewe ni mtu unawakilisha wafanyikazi na wewe hutaki huyo mfanyikazi awe na nafasi awe na nyumba, apatiwe na tajiri yake pesa ya kununua nyumba… wewe ni mfanyikazi ama umenunuliwa na tajiri utetee haki ya tajiri badala ya mfanyikazi?,” posed Ruto.
The Bellevue project will consist of 2,356 units, creating jobs for at least 5,000 Kenyans. And the president has stated that his administration intends to construct 200,000 units annually, up from 50,000.
This is not the first time a proposal for the fund has been made. During the presidency of the now-retired Uhuru Kenyatta, members of parliament and even labor union representatives opposed a similar initiative.
President Ruto: 3% Housing Levy is “Mortgage for Hustlers”
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