Housing Levy Saga Gets Messy as COTU as Atwoli Challenges PS Hinga to Provide Evidence of Involvement
COTU (K) has dismissed claims by Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary, Charles Hinga, that the union was involved in the formulation of the Affordable Housing Regulations.
In a statement issued by COTU (K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli, the union denied any participation in the drafting, approval or review of the regulations. Atwoli said no meeting of the COTU (K) Executive Board – the only organ mandated by law to determine the union’s position – was ever convened to discuss or approve the regulations.
“At no point did the COTU (K) Executive Board sit to deliberate or resolve to support the said regulations,” Atwoli said. He challenged PS Hinga to produce documented evidence, including written resolutions, minutes or official correspondence, showing the union’s endorsement or participation in the drafting process.
“If indeed PS Hinga claims that COTU (K) was involved, we challenge him to produce ANY written resolutions, minutes or official correspondence from COTU (K)’s Executive Board endorsing the drafting or content of the current regulations,” the statement added.
COTU (K) also said it had not received any invitation or request for input from the Affordable Housing Fund Board or the State Department for Housing and Urban Development. Atwoli said any suggestion of COTU (K)’s involvement based on the presence of Bro. Ernest Nadome on the Affordable Housing Fund Board was wrong and misleading.
“It’s dangerous and dishonest to equate the presence of one individual on a board to the institutional position of COTU (K),” Atwoli said. He confirmed that Bro. Nadome had already informed COTU (K) leadership that the union was not consulted or involved in approving the regulations in question.
The row follows President Ruto’s public statement that the Affordable Housing levy will also fund construction of additional infrastructure including 260 markets across the country. PS Hinga also reiterated that the Act has always included provision of both residential units and social infrastructure.“COTU was represented in the committees that formulated this Act and regulations. Even in 2018 the Act said — houses, plus social and physical infrastructure that make settlements work,” PS Hinga said in response to the union’s position.
But COTU (K) disputes this interpretation, saying the government is diverting funds from their original purpose. Atwoli cited that the current regulations allow the housing levy to be used for construction of unrelated facilities including health centres, schools, police posts, social halls and other amenities. He said such use deviates from the core purpose of providing affordable housing.
“Under the Affordable Housing Regulations, housing levy funds can now be used to construct health facilities, pre-primary education centres, basic education centers, fire stations, police posts, social halls, markets and open spaces under the guise of associated social infrastructure,” COTU noted
COTU (K) has asked President Ruto to step in and ensure that all monies collected through the Affordable Housing levy are used to build houses for Kenyan workers.
This comes as the country is debating the Affordable Housing Programme and wider issues of fiscal transparency and institutional consultation in policy making.
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Housing Levy Saga Gets Messy as COTU as Atwoli Challenges PS Hinga to Provide Evidence of Involvement