NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 5 – National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has hit out at Opposition Leader Raila Odinga for stating that his move to challenge the housing levy ruling disqualified him from his role.
Wetangula described Odinga as ignorant urging him to get his facts right.
“Ignoramus per excellence! Get the facts right before such ignominious outbursts! Misplaced, misdirected & unhelpful anger,” Wetangula said.
During a rally in Kamukunji grounds, Odinga stated hat the Speaker’s role on the Finance Act 2023 ended when the President assented it into law.
“Wetangula has no authority to move to the courts, he is going there as who? Wetangula should not be the Speaker of Kenya, once the law is passed his role has ended. The issue is now between Executive and Judiciary,” he stated.
The Azimio La Umoja Leader questioned why Wetangula moved to the Supreme Court to appeal the extend order allowing Housing Levy deductions without consulting the legislators.
“The Speaker is the servant of the MPs,he cant go to court without asking the nod of the MPs.He went to court as who?”Odinga posed.
In July 2023, the government implemented the controversial Levy, compelling both employees and employers to contribute 1.5 percent of their gross monthly salary to a fund designated for affordable housing.
President William Ruto champions the affordable housing fund as his flagship initiative, utilizing it to generate employment opportunities for millions of unemployed youth in the country.
However, the project implementation has encountered obstacles in addressing legal challenges, with stakeholders questioning its underlying framework.
The Court of Appeal on January 26, 2024, declined to lift the suspension of the Housing Levy, thereby preventing the government from collecting contributions from both employees and employers. President Ruto has vowed to appeal the ruling.
