The National Assembly and Finance Planning Committee proposed to exempt employers from paying the 1.5% Housing Levy. While conducting public participation, the committee agreed that imposing the levy on employers would render many jobless. National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah claimed Kenyans were willing to pay the levy as he dismissed Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party members for criticising the move. Ichung’wah, who is the Kikuyu MP, said non-salaried Kenyans will also pay the tax. “In this new law, we have now made, it is possible for even non-salaried people to be able to contribute. Everyone will pay their fair share. Job opportunities lie on this bill,” Ichung’wah said. Lawmakers also proposed removing the requirement that buyers pay a 10% deposit of the house’s cost before occupying it. What William Ruto said on housing levy President William Ruto remained adamant about implementing the controversial housing levy despite stiff opposition. The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leader insisted the housing project was a noble idea that must be implemented. Ruto claimed the opposition leaders opposed the housing levy because they only wanted to discuss it during campaigns but were afraid to implement it. “This beautiful project was in the manifesto for Kenya Kwanza. The same housing project, complete with the percentages of the levy, was also in the Azimio manifesto. But when it comes to implementation, that is where the devil lives. Nobody wants it implemented; people want to talk about it when hardly anyone means it,” Ruto said.
by Japhet Ruto