KNUT Issues Condition for Supporting Ruto’s Housing Fund
Collins Oyuu, the Secretary General (SG) of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), explained how President William Ruto ought to have approached the creation and popularization of the Housing Fund initiative to increase support on Thursday, June 1.
Speaking to the media, Oyuu indicated that the President would gain greater support for the idea of people contributing 3% of their salary if there was adequate public participation.
Without a clear strategy, the administration has started distributing information, and Ruto has mentioned the fund in almost all of his public appearances. Cabinet Secretaries and their principal secretaries, on the other hand, have also made news over the contentious idea, with Housing PS Charles Hinga being one of the most outspoken regarding the fund.
Various industries offered their opinions when the initiative was still just a proposal, causing the government to change its position. From a tax to a levy, from required to optional payments, from savings to refunds if one decides they do not want a home after seven years, and from a set 3% to a 3% contribution with a cap of Ksh2,500.
Oyoo from KNUT joined the discussion and demanded additional explanation.
“On the subject of the housing charge, what we requested was the notion of sitting us down and outlining the levy in detail. Participation from the public was key, according to Oyuu.
“Tell us what the levy is all about, how to deal with it, and how to tell our members about it. We need to be adequately informed of what is going on, he continued.
He stated that it was unreasonable for the President to ask boda boda drivers and mama mbogas who don’t have payslips for a wage reduction.
Without providing them with further information, telling hawkers and boda boda riders to oppose the Finance Bill would be useless, he said.
Oyuu highlighted instances when members’ opinions on various initiatives were altered as a result of public participation.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), however, rejected the fund on May 12 on the grounds that its members already own homes.
The KUPPET branch in Embu made the claim that its members raised goats, cows, pigs, and other animals and that they are not persuaded to invest in the high-rise residences that Ruto has suggested.
One of the members said, “We don’t want to live in those highrises; they will hurt teachers.”
“A decent, reasonably priced residence might cost Ksh1.2 million. Another grumbled, “If you do the math, a teacher will pay for the house for many years.
The Media Owners Association opposed the Housing Fund whereas the Central Organization Trade Union (COTU), led by labor leader Francis Atwoli, backed it. The MOA claimed that the proposed contribution would considerably reduce employees’ take-home pay.
“The media businesses in this nation are concerned about this idea as employers. Agnes Kalekye, chairwoman of the Media Owners Association, said on Tuesday, May 30, “Employees are already significantly taxed with an average tax rate of 30% and contributions to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Nevertheless, according to President Ruto, the project will build homes for Kenyans with low and intermediate incomes.
On May 11, Ruto stated, “This is a program that we cannot fail to do because it provided jobs for the millions of young people leaving our educational institutions.”
KNUT Issues Condition for Supporting Ruto’s Housing Fund
