Affordable Housing Units in Homabay County. Photo: PSC.
The has government has refuted claims raised by Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli of misappropriation of billions of affordable housing levy to build social infrastructure such as markets, rather than exclusively funding housing projects.
In a statement by Principal Secretary, State Dept for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga, dismissed the claims by Atwoli, stating that he was part of the committee that drafted the law and regulation of the housing levy.
“COTU was represented in person in committees that formulated this Act and regulations. Even in 2018, the Act clearly said — houses, plus social and physical infrastructure that make settlements work,” Hinga confirmed.
On Friday, June 6, through a statement, Atwoli challenged the PS to produce the minutes of the meeting that showed the union endorsing the law.
“At no point did the Executive Board of COTU, which is the legally mandated organ responsible for such decisions, sit to deliberate or resolve to support the said regulations,” Atwoli stated.
Hinga emphasizes that affordable housing extends beyond just constructing four walls & must encompass essential amenities. He further slammed Atwoli for misleading Kenyans, as the workers will also use the amenities being built under the housing levy.
“Under the Affordable Housing Regulations, housing levy funds may now, erroneously, be used to construct health facilities, pre-primary education centers, basic education centers, fire stations, police posts, social halls, markets, and open spaces, under the guise of associated social infrastructure,” read the statement.
On May 31, Thomas Ofwa, Managing Director of the National Housing Corporation (NHC), said that 110 units in Homabay were ready to occupied by the beneficiaries. During his tour of the region before Madaraka Day, President William Ruto commissioned and handed the units to the beneficiaries, reinforcing his calls for providing decent homes for Kenyans.
“The govt has handed over keys to the first 1,080 social housing units in the new Mukuru Estate, Nairobi & 110 affordable housing units at Boma Yangu, Homa Bay,” Ruto said.
