President William Ruto has signed the Affordable Housing Bill into law.
The Affordable Housing Act establishes a system for housing tax collection and implementation of the affordable housing program.
President Ruto said the implementation of the Affordable Housing Program will change the lives of Kenyans at the bottom of the pyramid by creating jobs, providing better housing and reducing the fragmentation of agricultural land.
Speaking at the State House in Nairobi after signing the Bill, the Head of State commended the National Assembly and the Senate for working through the night to pass the Bill.
“I want to thank Parliament and Kenyans for their contribution to this Bill which I have signed into law,” said President Ruto.
He pointed out that the housing program will ensure that families across the country live with dignity.
At the same time, President Ruto issued a stern warning against anyone who squanders public property. He said government leaders have firm instructions to use public funds carefully.
“I want to assure Kenyans that I will do whatever will protect public funds. All government projects, including the housing construction program, should be corruption-free,” the President said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said the housing program will provide Kenyans with better housing.
“The house building project will define the talent of President Ruto. Now is the time for all of us to support this plan,” said Gachagua.
The Chief Secretary of the Council of Ministers Musalia Mudavadi pointed out that the signing of the Bill into law will pave the way for the implementation of the project.
Minister of Lands and Housing Alice Wahome said the project has so far employed 120,000 people, adding that 300,000 people will be working in various construction sites in Kenya by the end of the year.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja praised the project saying it will destroy slums in big cities in the country.
The Act has established four types of housing – social housing, affordable housing, affordable middle-class housing and affordable rural housing.
The social housing category refers to a house intended for a person whose monthly income is less than 20,000 shillings.
An affordable house is aimed at a person whose monthly income is between 20,000 shillings and 149,000 shillings.
The affordable middle class housing unit is meant for people whose monthly income is more than 149,000 shillings.
Rural affordable housing is a category as defined in Section 42 and targeted at people living outside urban areas.
Other leaders at the event are National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa, Senate colleague Aaron Cheruiyot and Attorney General Justin Muturi, among others.
