Residents from Narok County on Tuesday, May 30, sought to recover 200 acres of land they alleged was illegally donated for the affordable housing project, one of President William Ruto's flagship programmes.
The community leaders noted that they are conducting civic education within the society to mobilse the residents against the idea.
They insisted that the decision to donate their land was ill-informed and were not involved in the entire process.
The group added that some of its members already owned houses and saw no need to leave their homes for the apartments promised by the government.
Professor Meitamei Dapash explained that Purko General Assembly, which manages the land, was the only entity legalised to do transactions on behalf of the community.
They, therefore, accused the government of disadvantaging them by taking their land for the national project.
"To us, this project is irrelevant. Some of us do not live in these houses. Who are you constructing these houses for? If they were for us, there would have been public participation," Dapash noted.
Furthermore, the residents called upon the government to be transparent about the project which elicited mixed reactions among Kenyans.
Housing Levy
In the proposed plan, Kenyans will be deducted three per cent every month directed towards the affordable housing plan.
The plan is keen on providing low and middle-income earners who cannot afford mortgages with affordable housing across the country.
"In the housing fund plan, employees are to remit three per cent every month and the employers will give three per cent. The six per cent will be the employees' wealth.
"This is a program that we cannot fail to do because it provided jobs for the millions of young people leaving our learning institutions," Ruto stated.
On Monday, May 29, Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga explained that Kenyans seeking to withdraw their contribution from the Housing Fund after seven years will be taxed.
"This money is aimed at addressing the issue of housing and unemployment. You can also take the money and move it to the retirement fund and it will not be taxed," he added.
