This archive report was first published on 12 December 2019.
Uhuru Makes Housing Levy Voluntary for Kenyans ¶
President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed the National Treasury to make the housing levy voluntary for all Kenyans, following legal challenges in court.
The decision was announced on Thursday, December 12, during the country's Jamhuri day celebrations at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.
Uhuru said the government has begun to fulfill its pledge on the affordable housing programme under the Big Four Agenda.
"We have begun the journey to fulfill our pledge to you on the affordable housing programme. Just last week, I commissioned the first phase of the project by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) that will deliver 100,000 units across the country," he said.
The housing levy was introduced in January 2019, with Uhuru saying it was a way of helping Kenyans save. However, the Consumers Federation of Kenya went to court challenging its implementation, and the Labour Court suspended the move in April 2019.
Netizens congratulated the president following his announcement to make the levy voluntary.
