Omanga raises alarm over housing levy, calls scheme a scam
By Emmanuel Rono, April 10, 2026Businesswoman and former nominated senator Millicent Omanga has launched an attack on the government’s Affordable Housing project, labelling it a scam and questioning the transparency of the funds involved.
Speaking during an interview on Milele FM on Friday, April 10, 2026, Omanga argued that the project is not sustainable, particularly regarding its promise to provide long-term employment for the youth.
She pointed out that manual jobs like welding are temporary, lasting only as long as the construction phase, leaving workers without a steady income once a project is completed.
“Hii housing, nakuambia, naona ni kama ‘kizungu mkuti’. Ni kweli kuna nyumba anasema zinajengwa na kwamba zinatengeneza ajira kwa vijana, lakini hapo ndipo napata shida. Mradi wa ujenzi ni wa muda mfupi, unaweza kuchukua mwaka mmoja tu. Vijana wanafanya kazi ya mkono, na ikikamilika, kazi inaisha. Haiwezi kuendelea, kwa hivyo siyo sustainable,” Omanga said.
Loosely translate: “This housing project, I’m telling you, looks like a scam to me. Yes, there are houses being built, and it is claimed that they are creating jobs for young people, but that’s where my concern lies.
“Construction projects are short-term; they may only last about a year. Young people do manual work, and once it’s completed, the jobs end. It’s not something that can continue, so it is not sustainable,” Omanga said.
Double charging
Omanga raised concerns over what she described as a double-charging of Kenyans.
She noted that the houses are built on land provided for free by county governments, while the construction is funded by the 1.5% housing levy deducted from the payslips of both public and private sector employees.
Furthermore, she highlighted that contractors receive tax exemptions and waivers on construction materials, significantly lowering the cost of production.
“Kuhusu housing, tunajua kuwa nyumba zinazojengwa zinajengwa kwenye mashamba au viwanja ambavyo serikali kuu ilipewa bure na serikali za kaunti,” Omanga said.
Omanga leaving UDA
“Na mimi nilitumika, sikujua kwamba ilikuwa kutumika kutafuta kura kwa akina mama. Tukasema, ‘Ooh, watu wa mama, akina mama mboga, watu wa boda boda, vijana wa kinyozi, wasichana wa salon, akina mama fua’ – vitu vyote vile ikawa, kumbe, ni kuadaa, so hiyo ndo jambo moja kubwa haswa ya mimi kutoka pale UDA na kukosa kumsupport Rais Ruto,” Omanga explained.