The House has commenced debate on the proposed law to align it with the High Court ruling issued last year which declared it unlawful.
The National Assembly has officially begun debate seeking to create a law to anchor the President William Ruto backed Affordable Housing Bill which has divided the House, with the opposition leaders saying it is unconstitutional.
Majority Leader, Kimani Ichung’wah, who led the debate said members of the joint committee comprising the departmental committees on finance and national planning and that on housing, urban planning and public works did “an extensive job” on public hearings and collection of expert opinions in 19 out of the 47 counties in the country.
The Kikuyu MP said that the affordable housing program is an opportunity to spur the economy and create employment for youths and that the proposed law only needs to align with the High Court ruling issued last year which declared it unlawful.
“The Joint Departmental Committees on Finance and National Planning and that of Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works have done a commendable job in conducting public participation across the country,” he said, urging members to identify sites for construction of the houses in their constituencies.
Ichungw’ah added: “I would like to urge Members who are yet to comply with the letter from the Housing Principal Secretary, to do so and propose sites for construction of affordable houses in their constituencies.”
Chairperson Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, Johana Ng’eno on his part told the House that during the public participation exercise, the pertinent questions raised were; how the houses will be accessed impartially, how to make voluntary contribution, and how to ensure everyone is levied without discrimination.
The Emurua Dikirr MP said it is through the affordable housing program that the government will be able to actualize Article 43 (1) b of the Constitution on right to accessible and adequate housing.
Contributing to the debate, Leader of the Minority Party Opiyo Wandayi opposed the Bill arguing that (even) if it was to be passed into law, it was not going to do much on the realization of the rights under Article 43 (1) b of the Constitution.
“The Bill is simply trying to respond to queries raised by the High Court last year. My submission, however, is that this Bill does not cure the deficiencies that were apparent in the Finance Bill, 2023,” said Wandayi.
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