Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga has told employers to stop remitting the controversial Housing Levy to the government. ODM party leader Raila Odinga spoke on Wednesday, November 29. Photo: Raila Odinga. Source: Facebook Why Raila insists Housing Levy remains illegal During a press briefing on Wednesday, November 29, Raila asked employers to comply with the High Court judgement that quashed the levy.“I am calling on all employers to immediately stop remitting the 1.5% because it is against the Constitution,” Raila said. According to the ODM leader, the judgement by the three-judge bench was solid, and the stay orders issued by the court did not make the levy constitutional. “I’m not surprised with Kenya Kwanza…the judges issuing a stay does not turn the unconstitutional constitutional…the court made its pronouncement that the matter is unconstitutional, period!” he added. Why Babu Owino wants government to refund money Elsewhere, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino praised the judiciary for annulling the Housing Levy, terming it unconstitutional. On Tuesday, November 28, the High Court issued a judgement declaring the levy deduction from Kenyans unconstitutional, reiterating that the Kenya Revenue Authority had no mandate to collect the money.Following Court Ruling Speaking at the Milimani Law Courts premises shortly after the landmark ruling that threw President William Ruto’s administration back to the drawing board, Babu said the government was obliged to refund the illegally deducted monies. “The courts have agreed that the Housing Levy was forced on Kenyans, which is unconstitutional. I want to thank the judiciary on this one. I want to say that the government was stealing hard-earned money from Kenyans. This is theft by pen,” the MP said. He called upon all Kenyans subjected to the deduction courtesy of the Finance Act 2023 that introduced the levy to demand a refund from the government when the court decision was still fresh.
by Amos Khaemba