Ruto speaks on suspension of the housing levy

By Peter Ochieng

President William Ruto has reacted after the Court of Appeal on Friday declined to suspend orders barring the state from deducting housing levy from Kenyans.

Kenyans in formal employment have been contributing 1.5 percent if their salaries to the levy, monthly. In their ruling, Justices Lydia Achode, John Mativo and Gatembu Kairu said the levy stands suspended, as the public lie in wait of the determination of the appeal.

"This is because if the stay sought is granted at the stage, should we affirm the challenged decision, then some far-reaching decisions that will have been undertaken pursuant to the challenged laws may not be reversible," they ruled.

"Public interest in our view tilts favour of in not granting the stay or the suspension sought," added the judges.

Speaking in Igembe after the ruling, President Ruto said the government is already creating a law that will guide his housing project.

The court he said, should have allowed the Kenya Kwanza administration time to complete creating the law, adding that he will push forward with the plan.

"I want to say for the avoidance of doubt we are already making the law that the court authorised that we go and make. They should have given us a chance to complete the law but we are going to complete the law," said Ruto.

"And we are going to go forward with making sure we create opportunities for jobs for the young people of our country because that is what the people of Kenya want. That is the right thing to do and that is where the public interest is."

He said the program has created jobs for over 100,000 job opportunities across the country.

"The housing program is going to give us jobs in manufacturing in cement and steel industries. It will ensure engineers, masons, and carpenters have jobs. I want to tell the people who have gone to court, many of them have jobs, they want to deny opportunities to people who have never worked. We are on a mission to ensure equity and equality for all people of Kenya."

The Attorney General and the National Treasury had moved to the Court of Appeal, after the High Court found the deductions to be unconstitutional.