MPs who voted for Affordable Housing Bill betrayed Kenyans -Azimio

Azimio leaders have urged Kenyans to put on notice MPs who betrayed their wishes by voting for the Affordable Housing Bill, 2023.

Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi on February 22, 2024, the Azimio leaders insisted that President William Ruto’s affordable housing program remains unfair, discriminatory and unconstitutional as it was declared by the court.

“We would like to first congratulate the bold Azimio members of parliament who during the second reading of the controversial Bill remained firm to the wishes of Kenyans and voted against the Bill.

“Secondly, we ask Kenyans to now put on notice the members of parliament who betrayed their wishes by voting for the punitive Bill,” Azimio noted in a statement.

This was after the Affordable Housing Levy Bill, 2023 was introduced to the House after the courts twice declared the Housing Levy which is meant to finance the Affordable Housing Program unfair, discriminatory and unconstitutional.

According to Azimio, the Bill was passed on February 21, 2024 in the National Assembly as per the wishes of the Kenya Kwanza regime against the wishes of Kenyans.

However, the opposition leaders maintained that they are committed to protecting the interests of Kenyans at all times.

According to Azimio, Ruto’s affordable housing program that has been christened as an employment creator remains a punitive tax collection avenue from the already suffering Kenyans.

“As the Affordable Housing Levy Bill, 2023 moves to the senate, we once again ask the senators from across the political divide to be patriotic and reject this Bill in toto. It is a bad Bill for the people of Kenya,” Azimio noted.

Meanwhile, the passing of the Bill in the National Assembly was a win for President Ruto, who has been pushing for the implementation of the affordable housing program.

After a heated debate, 141 MPs voted for the bill while 58 opposed it.

“In a division on the second reading of the Affordable Housing Bill, 2023, the results are as follows; the ayes 141, the nays 58; total votes 199, abstentions nil, so the ayes have it,” said Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.