Kindergarten teacher Beatrice Achieng, on Tuesday, June 6, asked President William Ruto to deduct a 3 per cent levy from small enterprise groups and channel it towards the affordable housing project.
In a presentation at the First Ladies Roundtable during the second UN Habitat Assembly, Achieng explained that the move accorded Kenyans without formal employment a chance to own affordable houses.
The single mother argued that by doing so, individuals without formal employment would able to take loans from the small enterprise groups and pay for the housing unit extending the project beyond salaried individuals.
"I have been listening to arguments about the 3 per cent affordable housing levy and I want to ask the President to consider those who are unemployed.
“We are able to take loans from our table banking groups and chamas, pay the deposit and get good houses from the project,” she explained.
Further, Achieng hailed First Lady Rachel Ruto's drive to educate women in the slums about table banking noting that the initiative transformed her life, allowing her to upgrade from a Mabati house to a single room.
"The First Lady was given a vision by God about women and she met with those from Highridge and other slums around Westlands to educate us on table baking in 2014.
"We formed a group and contributed Ksh200 every month which helped me educate my children as well as relocate from my 'mabati' house to a single room," she added.
According to the Kindergarten teacher, the project did not just uplift the lives of her four children but the entire community. She adopted other children who live with her in the single room.
“I am living in a single room but it is a good house because there is a toilet, a bathroom, water and electricity. I want to join the government’s housing project because I want to live in an even better environment," she yearned.
The Finance Bill 2023 also proposesd taxation on contributions made by enterprise groups (chamas) after the state considered them businesses.
"A body of persons which carries on the activities of a member's club or trade association shall be deemed to be carrying on a business and the gross receipts on the revenue account (excluding joining fees, welfare contributions and subscriptions) shall be deemed to be income from a business," the proposed bill reads in part.
Members of Parliament debate proposals contained in the Bill on Thursday, June 8. The following week, the 2023/24 budget will be presented in Parliament.
