Piece by: MAUREEN KINYANJUI

29 May 2023

• Ruto last Friday said that the creation of employment is what's driving him to introduce the plans to Kenyans.

• Opposition chief Raila Odinga has on various occasions told President Ruto that the cost of living needed to be relooked at because, at the moment, people are suffering.

Public servants will on Monday have peaceful processions to Parliament. In a notice, they will march to the National Assembly buildings in protest against what they termed as over-taxation.

Public Servants will be drawn from unions such as Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU), and Kenya Union Of Domestic Hotels Educational Institutions Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha) among others.

The procession will begin at 8:00 am, having assembled at the University of Nairobi Chancellor's Court.

This comes amid ongoing debate on a new Housing levy that the unions condemned, saying it is inconsiderate for the government to impose a levy without a commensurate increment in workers’ pay.

The levy seeks to tax 3 percent of workers' monthly basic salary to fund Ruto's affordable housing project.

The government has faced criticism from the opposition as well as the public over the high cost of living.

The government's move to issue a clarification on the controversial affordable housing project, to which it will be mandatory for salaried citizens to contribute, has received a backlash from some Kenyans who want the agenda dropped.

Opposition chief Raila Odinga has on various occasions told President Ruto that the cost of living needed to be relooked at because, at the moment, people are suffering.

He said Kenyans cannot be taxed to the bone just because of Kenya Kwanza’s internal weaknesses.

In addition, Raila has asked President Ruto to institute far-reaching reforms in his administration to tackle the high cost of living.

However, President Ruto last Friday said that the creation of employment is what's driving him to introduce the plans to Kenyans.

"The real motivation behind it (housing project) is the jobs we are going to create for the young people of Kenya. Ni kuhakikisha kwamba vijana wanapata ajira (This is to ensure youths are employed), " he said.

For every house, Ruto revealed that the government will need five youths to help with construction.