A prominent ODM politician has criticized Attorney General JB Muturi and the ruling party Kenya Kwanza for their handling of the controversial Housing Levy, which was declared unconstitutional by the High Court on Wednesday.
Businessman Mohamed Alinur, who is also a former Kamukunji MP hopeful, took to Twitter to accuse Muturi and KK of playing games with the Kenyan people and ignoring court orders.
“Kenya Kwanza and Attorney General JB Muturi should stop these games. They have been ignoring court orders, including the court’s directive to stop deducting the Housing Levy. To fool Kenyans that KK obeys court orders, Muturi has today said the same thing that the court said,” Alinur wrote.
Alinur was referring to Muturi’s statement that the Housing Levy, which was introduced by KK as part of its Big Four agenda, was unconstitutional and lacked legal backing. Muturi said that the levy, which required employers and employees to contribute 1.5% of their salaries to a fund for affordable housing, violated the rights of workers and employers.
Muturi’s statement came after the High Court ruled that the levy was illegal and ordered the government to refund all the deductions made since July 2023. The court also issued an injunction to prevent any further deductions until the matter is resolved.
Alinur’s tweet sparked a heated debate on social media, with some users supporting his views and others defending Muturi and KK. Some users accused Alinur of being biased and opportunistic, while others praised him for speaking the truth and standing with the workers.
The Housing Levy has been a contentious issue in Kenya since it was announced in 2023. The government argued that the levy was necessary to provide affordable housing for low and middle-income earners, while the opposition and civil society groups claimed that the levy was unfair, illegal, and a burden to the already struggling workers.
The levy has also been challenged in court by various parties, including the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), and the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK).
The latest ruling by the High Court is seen as a major blow to the KK government and its Big Four agenda, which aims to deliver universal health care, food security, manufacturing, and affordable housing by 2027.
