Ruto’s 3 percent Mandatory Deduction Rejected
Following President Ruto’s pronouncement of 3 percent Mandatory Salary Deduction For All civil servants towards affordable housing, the teacher’s lobby group has rejected the move terming it unconstitutional.
The president made this statement while attending a church service in Donholm at Friends Church (Quakers) where he stated that all civil servants will now be deducted 3 percent of the salary to be contributed towards affordable housing units in the country to enable Kenyans find cheaper homes.
Speaking to our team, Wagonya Wangenye who is the National Secretary of the Kenya Teachers in Hardship and Arid Areas Welfare Association (KETHAWA) mentioned that as much the teachers are supporting the government, the president should reconsider his position on this matter.
“I humbly request the president to consider the government position now that the cost of living is very high and the inflation rate skyrocketing,” Wangenye Said.
“The current salaries and allowances for all civil servants, teachers in hardship areas included is hardly enough to feed them and as an association, we have recently requested the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to sign a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with our unions in order to enhance salaries and allowances to cushion high inflation rate,” he added.
Wangenye has urged the president to postpone the issue of affordable housing in the country and wait until when the salaries of teachers and other civil servants have been revised upwards for easy negotiation.
He further urged the President not to make this initiative mandatory for all but voluntary for those who are willing and interested.
“Teachers in Hardship and Arid Areas (ASAL) are currently preoccupied with their working conditions. Welfare and any other deduction in pay slip will negatively impact on their service delivery, making it even worse than it already is,” Wangenye Stated.
The president mentioned this saying the initiative will benefit Kenyans who don’t have homes in the country get their permanent homes at an affordable rate.
Plz save us this agony of salary deductions day after day. The other day it was enhanced NSSF, here comes 3% housing not forgetting double deductions (AON- money & NHIF) as medical cover. Indeed our net salary is now a mockery of the profession.