We can all agree decent housing is a fundamental right of all human beings, wherever they are.
The Housing Levy Fund, however continues to be an emotive issue.
It was one of the many reasons Gen Zs poured into the streets in June baying for the blood of Kenya Kwanza’s leading lights.
They targeted Parliament for vandalism and arson after it unanimously passed the Financial Bill 2024 that proposed tax increases to fund health care and housing, amongst others.
The Supreme Court ruled the Affordable Housing Levy is constitutional and the Finance Act of 2023 is valid.
It overturned the Court of Appeal ruling that the Finance Act was unconstitutional, including the housing levy, on July 31, 2024.
The Supreme Court’s decision means that Kenyans will continue to pay the housing levy and other taxes introduced in the Finance Act.
Housing is one of the driving components of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Vision 2030 Agenda without which, the goals will not be met.
The SDGs provides that by 2030, all should have safe and affordable housing, basic services and upgraded of slums.
Are we on track to ensure we beat this fast-approaching 2030 deadline? Kenya sets the pace for the region and she must lead by example in proving to Africa that it is possible to house every citizen decently and with dignity.
The Constitution of Kenya is clear on the importance of housing as a major driver of growth and contributor to positive social change.
Article 47 on Economic and Social Rights, subsection C, holds that the citizenry has a right to accessible, adequate housing and reasonable standards of sanitation.
It goes without saying, therefore, that the affordable housing policy by the Kenya Kwanza Government is aligned with the supreme law of the land and other protocols.
The ruling United Democratic Alliance Coalition included housing in its manifesto as one of its campaign pillars.
It is now transforming the manifesto to tangible programmes and projects despite opposition, innuendo and the sheer politics of what Gen Z calls in slang Kufi nish kumalo.
The anguka nayo one legee politics is largely teeming with Social Media and online misinformation, disinformation and Deep fakes, deep fakes, with only one objective: to paint the government as inept, corrupt, visionless and wholly rudderless.
Ruto is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. And since he has not flown closer to the sun like Icarus, Kenya’s fifth President should not be shaken by the naysayers?
Baba Charlene should train his eyes on the goal and his Bottom Up Transformation Economic Agenda.
If he fails, the voters will punish him accordingly in 2027.
For now, let’s allow him to work and criticise him objectively. His political nemeses are in full swing 24-7 on the shoulders of Gen Z and stealing the show from genuine causes for their own political expediency.
How can we harangue the President with one zillion demands and when he responds, he is held in a choke-hold that often leaves him gasping for breath and unable to work smoothly? How on earth will he deliver when all he hears are echoes upon echoes of bigotry and self-entitlement from some quarters?
I admire the President’s resilience in the face of the “Ruto Must Go” choruses echoing across social media and the streets.
Ruto has reiterated that he will listen to Kenyans’ concerns but some Kenyans with ulterior motives keep treating him as though he is deaf and dumb.
Being President does transform one into a superhuman with extra ears to hear the people and extra hands to smoothly handle all their demands.
Now, millions of Kenyans grappling with inadequate housing will be housed in safe and affordable houses made possible by the Housing Levy.
When people have affordable housing, they start having disposable income that improves the quality of life of individuals and communities and stimulates economic growth.
Housing gives people hope and dreams. It helps close the poverty gap and brings a new dawn to those who never dreamt of owning a home. With extra money to spare, people can comfortably spend more on health care and education.
The ripple effect is mental stability and reduced stress, which is are related to health issues that have sent many people to early graves.
According to the World Bank, Kenya’s annual production of housing units is fewer than 50,000, yet the country has a deficit of two million houses.
How long shall we continue burying our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich when Kenyans are in dire need of safe and affordable housing? Shouldn’t we be elated that someone is finally taking the bull by the horns, building lots of houses and creating real jobs in the process?
Affordable housing was one of the Big Four in the economic agenda of the Jubilee Administration in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s second term but was never addressed.
How else can we tackle the housing deficit when 61 per cent of urban dwellers are living in informal settlements? Should this significant number of Kenyans be left to wallow in slums for the rest of their lives?
There is an urgent need for more housing and this means more players are needed to meet growing housing needs that have never been met since Independence.
