Raila says Ruto’s Housing Levy should be optional
By Mary Ouko, May 12, 2023
Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga has asked President William Ruto to make the Housing levy optional.
Speaking during a burial ceremony in Kiharu, Murang’a County, the opposition leader affirmed that Ruto’s plan to tax all Kenyans was not fair.
He argued that the plan should only apply to those interested as most already owned houses.
“Unataka kutoza mtu ushuru ili umjengee nyumba, uliza ambaye anataka nyumba akubali yeye atatoa. Yule ambaye ako na nyumba anatozwa ya nini, anatoa nini. Kwa hivo hii mambo ya kujenga manyumba ni nzuri lakin kuna wengine tayari wako na manyumba. Hakuna haja ya kutozwa ushuru,” he stated.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader asserted that the leaders should discuss thoroughly before implementing various tax reforms.
“Haya yote ndio sababu sisi tunasema sio sawa, wakitoza ushuru waketi chini waelewane,” Raila said.
If the Finance Bill 2023 is passed into law, employees and employers will contribute 3 per cent of the employee’s salary to the Housing Fund.
“Kenyans will now be contributing three per cent of their income and kick start their journey of owning a house. Every employee who contributes three percent, the law will compel their employer to also contribute three per cent to the Housing kitty,” Ruto said said previously.