By SAM KIPLAGATMore by this AuthorThe Labour court on Wednesday issued fresh orders temporarily stopping the government from implementing the 1.5 per cent levy for the housing fund. Justice Maureen Onyango issued the order, saying the suspension would allow the consolidation of the current case by Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) with another earlier filed by the Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu). In its application, Cofek says it is "unreasonable to compel citizens who will not secure a house to contribute towards house ownership [by] another person without corresponding benefits". The Jubilee administration is keen on the project as affordable housing is one of the four pillars of President Uhuru Kenyatta's Big Four agenda. The Labour court first suspended the directive in December 2018 following an urgent application by Cofek, the workers' umbrella body, which challenged its legality.

Source: Daily Nation April 17, 2019 11:47 UTC