Wiper Party Leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka has stated that the first thing he will do if elected president is to revoke the Housing Levy. Kalonzo has vowed to repeal the levy through an executive order as the head of the state.
“As President, my first Executive Order will be to repeal the Housing Levy, which is a Slush Fund.” he stated on his X account on Tuesday.
Kalonzo termed the Housing Levy as a slush fund which can be kept for dishonest or illegal activities. A slush fund is an account where money is kept for unspecified purposes, usually outside official records.
Just a few days ago, Court of Appeal declined to suspend orders barring the state from deducting housing levy from Kenyans. This decision by the court saw mixed reactions from Kenyans as some expressed their relief on social media platforms while others stood with the Housing levy agenda.
Following keenly this court’s decision, the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKF) warned its members not to deduct the housing levy from their employees’ payslips unless the Court of Appeal rules otherwise.
On the same day Kalonzo has vowed to do away the levy, police officers were trying to disperse the crowd of construction workers by lobbing teargas canisters outside Milimani Law Courts. The crowd was on the streets to support the Affordable Housing Project saying the recent ruling by the court might render them jobless.
Kalonzo, who has been vocal in calling out the government to ensure independence of the Judiciary and Parliament, has frequently insisted his intentions to unseat President William Ruto in the 2027 general elections, whether backed by his ally Raila Odinga or not.
By promising to repeal the levy by executive order, the former vice president insinuates that he will make the declaration without going through the parliamentary procedure.
