Veronica Maina: Azimio leaders using propaganda to deceive Kenyans

By Robert Mutasi

Nominated Senator Veronica Maina has accused the Azimio One Kenya Coalition of using propaganda to deceive Kenyans.

Maina claims Azimio leaders have been using a proposal to introduce a housing levy as a tool to spread lies. 

Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday, the former UDA Secretary-General noted that the opposition was misrepresenting facts about the Housing Fund.

The objective, the nominated Senator claims, is to rally Kenyans, already struggling over tough economic times to reject the fund.

Meanwhile, Maina has defended the progress that the government has taken since taking over power in September 2022.

She has pointed out that the agenda of the Kenya Kwanza government in lowering the cost of living is in progress and that Azimio has to give them time to work on it.

"When Kenya Kwanza got the mandate together with President Ruto and his Deputy to run this nation, it was based on certain undertakings that the cost of living would be brought down and that commitment has not changed," noted the Senator.

The opposition is on record opposing the government's proposal to deduct 3 per cent of civil salaries for the housing fund.

It has vowed to reject the proposal contained in the Finance Bill 2023.

President William Ruto has however maintained that the housing levy will help ensure Kenyans can easily own their own houses.

"The contribution you make in the housing fund is not a tax…sio ushuru, ni pesa yako, si pesa ya ushuru. It is the shillings that will become thousands, millions, and billions and that is the money we are going to use to build affordable housing," Ruto said during the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed Bellevue Park residences affordable housing project in South C, Nairobi.