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Housing programmes will now be co-ordinated by the counties after the National Assembly passed the Affordable Housing bill as amended by the Senate.

Senators had amended the bill as passed by the National Assembly seeking to introduce the County Affordable Housing committee. The bill now awaits presidential assent to become law.

“Some of the key amendments that are proposed on the Bill by the Senate is the role of county governments,” noted majority leader Kimani Ichung’wa.

Senators also proposed that Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) and the Public Works department be involved in the housing program.

The MPs also concurred with the proposal to reduce from 2 per cent to 0.5 per cent of the amount of levies that were supposed to be taken up by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

“Not less than point five per cent (0.5%) of the monies to the county committees for the administration of the County Committees as may be approved by the Cabinet Secretary for the time being responsible for the National Treasury,” reads the proposed law.

Legal framework

The Bill sought to provide a comprehensive legal framework (The Affordable Housing Act) for the implementation of the Affordable Housing levy, as advised by the High Court.

Additionally, the bill aligns itself with the legal certainty requirement hence curing the lack of certainty in taxation while ensuring adherence to Article 27 and 201 (b) (i) of the Constitution on equality and fairness.

Finance and Planning Committee chairperson, Kimani Kuria, said the senator’s move to involve counties was in the spirit of fairness and ensuring that no county is left behind.

“Because the Senate establishes now County committees to make sure that the housing projects are skewed across the country in the spirit of fairness and assuring that no county is left out,” Kuria said.

Under the proposed law, the chairperson of the County Committee must be a holder of a degree from a university recognised in Kenya and have at least five years’ experience in matters relating to housing, built environment, banking, or finance.

The chairperson must be a person who has resided in the county for a period of not less

than five years.; and shall hold office for a term of three years and may be eligible for re-appointment for an additional final term of three years.

The provisions of the Land Act shall apply to the allocation of public land for the implementation of the affordable housing scheme and development of the institutional housing scheme.