Residents of Kiharu in Murang’a county have appealed to the government to consider their views when implementing projects.
The residents said the government is implementing unpopular programmes, which have affected them.
Some of the projects include affordable housing and the Social Health Authority.
Chege Nduthi, a resident, said the government should have lowered taxes on building materials to make it easier for Kenyans to build homes.
“It’s counterproductive for the government to impose high taxes that leave us without resources and then purport to build houses for us. We can do this ourselves if the economy is strong enough,” he said.
“Everything from nails to cement and the power saw should be made affordable. If these costs are addressed, many will no longer struggle to build homes.”
Nduthi said the high taxes have lowered construction activities at the grassroots as many focus on providing food for their families.
Philanthropist Karanja Wamatangi said programmes, which are not support Kenyans, should be restructured.
He said the affordable housing programme should have focused on slums and villages to benefit the needy.
He spoke at Muchungucha while handing over a new house to the family of Obadiah Kariuki.
“Such programmes have become a source of pain for Kenyans yet their impact may not be that big despite taking huge sums of money from their pockets,” Wamatangi said.
