The Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), on Friday, June 9, urged President William Ruto to form a housing board at the county level to help Kenyans at the grassroots level understand the Housing Fund.
Such boards, it stated, would create more jobs for the youth in the country, similar to the Huduma Centres launched by former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Huduma Centres ensured Kenyans could access information within their towns.
AAK further warned that the housing idea was not about providing Kenyans with homes only, but encompassed other concepts that needed to be broken down to the laymen.
Ruto has been pressured to create a framework for managing the funds and explain why it shouldn't be considered a tax. The government detailed that the deduction would be a levy for those who don't want homes accessing their funds after seven years.
Furthermore, the architects called upon the government to refer to similar projects in the past to avoid losing millions raised by Kenyans if the Finance Bill 2023, which advocates for the 3 per cent Housing Fund passes.
They referred to a project offering houses to slum dwellers in Kibera with a 25-year repayment plan. However, over time, the occupants returned to the slums and rented out the houses.
Nonetheless, AAK backed President William Ruto's legacy project, but with its proposals considered.
"Every Kenya deserves access to a safe and dignified living environment. We stand behind this initiative," stated the association's president Florence Nyole.
A section of Kenyans has opposed the Housing Fund that will see them deducted three per cent of their salary.
Ruto and his team, including Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, have championed the project to provide low-income Kenyans with affordable housing units.
On Tuesday, June 6, Hinga announced that the fund was open for changes ahead of voting, ahead of Thursday, June 15, when the 2023/24 budget is presented in Parliament.
Hinga urged the Members of Parliament not to shoot down the project that may see all Kenyans get cheap homes.
On his part, Ruto emphasised that he was only fulfilling one of his key election promises to Kenyans.
"The leaders with me during campaigns heard me saying there was a housing plan. Why would they turn their backs now?" Ruto questioned those opposing the fund.
He also dared to track down MPs who would oppose the Finance Bill 2023.
