President William Ruto on Tuesday scored the first win in his quest to sustain funding for his affordable housing programme after the new bill passed the second reading in Parliament. In a division on the second reading of the Affordable Housing Bill, 2023, the results are as follows; the ayes 141, the nays 58; total votes 199, abstentions nil, so the ayes have it,” Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said. “Usually, many corporations both private and public process their payrolls after the 15th of the month, so we hope by the 15th of March, your Excellency, you will have assented to the new Affordable Housing Bill,” he added. The new bill was introduced to the House after the courts twice declared the 1.5 per cent Housing Levy which is meant to finance Ruto’s Affordable Housing Project unconstitutional. "I'm glad that he asserts that he is a member of the House Business Committee...and these are the things that we should have transacted and he did not raise it," Ichung'wah said.

Source: The Star February 20, 2024 16:45 UTC