We'll Implement It, Whatever It Takes- Ruto On Housing Levy
Ruto underlined that he would pull all resources to implement it as he argued that other countries had followed suit and made tough decisions to realise affordable housing in the country.
Marvin Chege 
President William Ruto has declared his commitment to implementing the Housing Levy by any means necessary, despite the High Court declaring it unconstitutional.
Speaking at the Diaspora Investment Conference at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Ruto underlined that he would pull all resources to implement it as he argued that other countries had followed suit and made tough decisions to realise affordable housing in the country.
“I am telling you this time round, I am implementing it, and I am so determined because we must do it. Korea did it, Singapore did it, Malaysia did it, and that is why they are ahead of us," Ruto noted.
I'm telling you, this time round, I'm implementing the Housing Levy- President Ruto#ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/NcdDCn6cTL — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) December 13, 2023
"We know what we must do but we cannot gather the courage to do it, but this time round, whatever it takes we are going to implement it."
The Head of State, while addressing the issues surrounding the collection of the Housing Levy, drew comparisons between the project in his Kenya Kwanza manifesto and that of the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
Ruto accused the coalition, led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, of opposing the levy and leading numerous campaigns against it despite the opposition not being courageous enough to champion it in its own manifesto in the run-up to the 2022 elections.
“This housing project was on the manifesto of Kenya Kwanza. The housing project, complete with percentages of the levy, was also in the Azimio manifesto, but when it comes to the implementation, that is where the devil lives," the head of state denoted.
"Nobody wanted this implemented but we all want to talk about it.”
The Head of State further argued that the Housing Fund helped address the unemployment crisis in the country, stating that it was offering jobs to millions of jobless Kenyans.
"When some people say we must get rid of housing fund, many people step forward and say, look, for the first time we have jobs, for the first time we can feed our families, for the first time we have an opportunity to own a house," Ruto noted.
The Housing Levy was one of the sections declared null and void in the Finance Act by the High Court on Tuesday.
The judges had revealed that the Finance Act 2023 amendment to Section 84 of the Finance Act amending the Employment Act introducing the Housing Levy was unconstitutional, adding that the levy had lacked a comprehensive legal framework and was irrational.
The levy was accused of violating the principles of taxation and as contained in the Finance Act 2023 is discriminatory and unfair for making a distinction between the formal and informal sectors thus creating unequal and inequitable principles.
On November 28, hours after the High Court ruling, the President indicated that his government was willing to make readjustments to its policies and though he indicated that he would respect the three-judge bench's ruling, he underscored the importance of the affordable housing program, especially on job creation.
