News

Moses Kuria: Governors are the owners of affordable housing program

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023 21:30 | By
Moses Kuria: Governors are the owners of affordable housing program
Trade CS Moses Kuria at a past conference. PHOTO/Courtesy

Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria says the controversial affordable housing program will be steered by the county governments and not necessarily by the national government.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Wednesday night, CS Kuria said the affordable housing projects would be implemented in all 47 counties spearheaded by governors.

He made the comments against the backdrop of a heated debate on the sustainability and accountability of the 3 per cent housing levy proposed in the Finance Bill 2023.

“The conversation is missing a point, the government is not the owner of this program, it is going to be implemented in the counties,” Kuria said.

“It is actually the 47 governors who are the owners of the program because we are going to have all the counties earmarked land and projects for the affordable housing project in all corners of the country irrespective of the political persuasion," he added.

He suggested that governors should also be at the centre of the debate of the proposals backed by President William Ruto, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and members of parliament allied to the Kenya Kwanza administration.

"You as the media should ask the governors if they want jobs for their people or not. Ask them if they don’t want their youths to secure employment, for carpenters, builders, are there no people in your area who live in slums?" he added.

Earlier, President Ruto made a passionate appeal to members of parliament in the opposition to support the levy, insisting that the program would solve historical housing challenges.

Speaking during the National Prayer Breakfast meeting at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on Wednesday, June 7, Ruto criticized the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition for opposing the Finance Bill, citing a lack of consideration for the plight of millions of unemployed Kenyans and those in need of affordable housing.

“If we feel the pain of the three per cent, it is because we are alive. If we feel the pain of the millions of young people looking for jobs, of seven million Kenyans who live in indignity in slums, then we are human beings."

Azimio leader Raila Odinga accused Ruto's government of overburdening the taxpayer.

Raila insists that the government is wrong to introduce the housing levy when the country is struggling economically.

More on News


ADVERTISEMENT