President William Ruto's proposal to have all civil servants deducted three per cent of their pay as contributions to the Housing Fund has been opposed by union leaders, including lecturers.
Kenya Universities Staff Union Charles Mukhwaya, in a press briefing on Monday, April 24, vehemently opposed the proposal stating that the unions were not consulted.
Mukhwaya demanded that President William Ruto desist from implementing the proposal without cushioning the university staff.
"We condemn the manner in which the government is proposing to impose a housing levy without any commensurate increment in workers' emoluments
"We demand immediate government reversal of that levy and will soon make a decision on the way forward to this continuous insensitivity to the plight of workers in public service," he stated.
On his part, the Universities Academic Staff Union Secretary General Constantine Wasonga called out the government for imposing the cuts yet after ignoring the lecturers.
Wasonga maintained that the lecturers would not make any remittances to the fund bit unless they enjoyed the perks of other civil servants.
"We are saying no! Go to the civil servants whom you give comprehensive medical cover, mortgage, and housing schemes, and leave us alone," he declared.
The unionists argued that the pockets of the majority of the civil servants were already adequately squeezed by the state.
Concerns by the unionists came a day after Ruto declared mandatory deductions, adding that the employers would match their contributions.
However, the Head of State did not indicate when the new deductions would take effect.
Ruto explained that the move was in a bid to create a sustainable fund that would allow more Kenyans to become homeowners.
