Teachers And Other Civil Servants Unions Oppose 3% Housing Deduction

Teachers and subordinate staff through their unions; Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), and Kenya Union of Domestic Hostels Educational Institutions Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha) have condemned the government’s proposal to impose housing levy without a commensurate increment of workers’ pay.

According to KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu, house deduction can only happen when there are proper consultations.

He said the state should understand that the union leaders are on hot seats as worker`s representatives, adding that yet another levy on the same salary of workers could not make sense.

The unions led by KUSU Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya, condemned the move as they said the decision is in total violation of Section 26(2) of the Employment Act, 2007 which calls for engagements with workers before implementing a decision.

As unions, we condemn in the strongest terms the heartless, insensitive, and cavalier manner in which the Government is proposing to impose a housing levy without any commensurate increment in worker`s emoluments. We demand the immediate reversal of the levy.

As stakeholders in the labor movement, we will soon decide on the way forward on the continuous government`s insensitivity to the plight of workers, especially in the public service,” Mukhwaya said.

Constantine Wasonga, UASU Secretary General, said the members have vowed to reject the levy, noting that they also rejected the 1.5 percent levy proposed by the previous administration.

“To enable many Kenyans to buy houses under the affordable housing project, we have a housing fund to which we want every Kenyan to contribute 3 percent of their income. If you earn Sh10, 000, 3 percent is 300 shillings every month goes towards the fund,” Ruto said.

The President added that, for other Kenyans who will also opt to contribute three percent of their incomes to the fund, the law will compel their employers to give the same percentage. He said the move is part of a new plan that the government is set to roll out to enable Kenyans to acquire homes.

“Every employee who contributes 3 percent, the law will compel their employer to also contribute 3 percent to the Housing kitty,” he added.

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