The Kenya Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), led by Francis Atwoli on Monday, May 8, hit back at public servants and trade unionists who were protesting the three per cent house levy included in the 2023 Finance Bill.
In a statement, COTU stated that issues surrounding the levy had already been discussed in a meeting between the president and union leaders.
Atwoli, a vocal trade unionist faulted the individuals protesting the levy for missing the meeting and, therefore, failing to raise their concerns when required.
“It’s rather unfortunate that even after COTU (K) Secretary General invited all union leaders and the President of Kenya to have a social dialogue on various issues including the 3% housing fund levy, those who skipped the Labour Day Celebrations are now complaining about the resolution of the meeting,” COTU stated.
In addition, the notice indicated that the levy was a good initiative by the government to build low-cost homes for Kenyans.
COTU stated that in fact, the government had already invested Ksh5 billion as a contribution to the housing fund to provide adequate housing for Kenyans.
“It must be noted that the 3 per cent levy is not a tax and that this is a great initiative towards building low-cost homes for Kenyan workers.
“Article 43 b of the constitution instructs that every Kenyan has the right to accessible and adequate housing and to reasonable standards of sanitation,” COTU added.
The notice also reiterated that those who wanted to opt out of the program would be allowed to do so, receiving their savings with interest.
“The government of Kenya has made it clear that they have already invested Ksh5 billion into the housing fund and those who contribute to the housing fund and later wish to withdraw their contributions will have access to their savings with interest,” the statement noted.
At the same time, COTU warned the Union leaders of politicising the matter asking them to embrace social dialogue.
“It is regrettable that a constitutional right and an agreement between the government and workers is politicised.
COTU would like to encourage the trade unionists who skipped labour day celebrations and the meeting with the president to embrace social dialogue and stop politicising serious matters,” COTU stated.
Earlier during a presser, Azimio leader Raila Odinga rejected the bill stating that the coalition would instruct its Members of Parliament to distance themselves from it.
"We wish to make it clear from the outset that as a party, we will try our best to ensure that this anti-people budget is not passed by the National Assembly.
"In the event that Kenya Kwanza uses its hired majority and passes the Bill as it is, we want the people of Kenya to understand that it is Kenya Kwanza’s Bill. We will instruct our MPs to have nothing to do with it," Raila stated.
On Sunday, May 7, Public Sector Union (PSU) vowed to oppose what they termed over-taxation of public servants, threatening to down their tools if the bill was passed.
“The tax authorities continue to overburden the workers in the public sector whose salaries are deducted at source while doing very little to net those employed in the private sector,” a statement from PSU read in part.
