President William Ruto now says the Court of Appeal should have given the government the chance to complete creating a law guiding the affordable housing project.
Speaking on Friday in Igembe, Meru County, Ruto said his administration is already making the law as the High Court had authorized.
However, the Head of State insisted that he will go on with the housing project saying it will create job opportunities for the youth in the country.
"I want to say for the avoidance of doubt we are already making the law that the court authorised that we go and make. They should have given us a chance to complete the law but we are going to complete the law and we are going to go forward with making sure we create opportunities for jobs for the young people of our country because that is what the people of Kenya want. That is the right thing to do and that is where the public interest is," said Ruto.
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The President went on to say that the housing projects has employed over 130,000 people so far and the number will rise to 300,000 by the end of the year.
“We are on a mission to make sure that we create equity and equality in Kenya by giving every young person an opportunity to work,” Ruto added.
The Court of Appeal on Friday upheld the High Court decision declaring the levy constitutional.
In the ruling delivered by a three-judge bench comprising of Justices Lydia Achode, John Mativo and Mwaniki Gachoka ruled that the government’s decision to impose the housing levy did not follow the stipulated framework.
"The trial Court held that the Housing Levy was introduced without a legal framework. It also held that the levy was targeting a section of Kenyans. In our view, public interest lies in awaiting the determination of the appeal," the judges explained.
