Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah moved to court to stop the implementation of the housing levy a day after President William Ruto signed the Affordable Housing Act into law....CONTINUE READING
Omtatah and other petitioners argued that the Act is discriminatory and lacks a clear legal framework to collect levies from those in the informal sector.
He claimed that the Act violates the use of public land, as units are built on public land and then allocated to private citizens without involving the National Land Commission.
Nakuru-based surgeon Magare Gikenyi also sought similar orders from the courts, arguing that the law was introducing communist ideas in Kenya.
Nairobi – Busia senator Okiya Omtatah has moved to court alongside other petitioners to stop the implementation of the housing levy. A day after President William Ruto signed the Affordable Housing Act, Omtatah moved to court pleading his case.
The Senator argued that there is no clear legal framework to connect or collect the levies from those in the informal sector.
Alongside Blair Ngima, Benson Odiwuor and Karanja Matindi they argued that MPs failed to explain how the government would tax those not in formal employment, adding that the Act remains discriminatory.
The lawmaker further argued that the Act violates the use of public land where the units are built on public land and then allocated to private citizens without involving the National Land Commission.
Omtatah likened the programme to a scheme meant to steal money and land from unsuspecting Kenyans. Nakuru-based surgeon Magare Gikenyi also sought similar orders from the courts, arguing that the law was introducing communist ideas in Kenya.
In January 2024, MPs suggested amendments to the Affordable Housing Bill 2023 after the High Court declared it unconstitutional, proposing the exemption of employers from the scheme payment.
The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) revealed that in the past six months, employers and employees contributed KSh 26.8 billion under the controversial housing levy.
Ruto said the new law will offer affordable housing to ordinary Kenyans, with monthly rents as low as KSh 3,000…CONTINUE READING>>
