NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 27 – President William Ruto has underscored the pressing issue of unemployment as an existential threat to Kenya, emphasizing the need for cooperation among leaders across the three arms of government to tackle this critical challenge.
The President made the remarks during the inauguration of the Kieni Kiandege – Mworoga – Maraa road in Meru County on Saturday, reiterating his call on the judiciary to refrain from obstructing government initiatives aimed at addressing unemployment, such as the Affordable Housing Project, which seeks to create millions of job opportunities for the country’s youth.
“It is high time as a nation that we engage in a candid conversation about unemployment in Kenya. We have a vast number of young people who have completed their education but remain unemployed. We are committed to implementing a comprehensive plan, encompassing housing, digital employment, and labor export, to provide meaningful employment for our youth,” he stated.
The President’s remarks come in the wake of a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal, declaring the Housing Levy unconstitutional pending the outcome of an ongoing appeal process.
“In our view, the public interest lies in awaiting the determination of the appeal,” Justices Lydia Achode, John Mativo, and Mwaniki Gachoka stated. They further explained that granting a stay at this stage could have far-reaching consequences if the appellate court upholds the initial decision, potentially affecting actions taken under the impugned laws.
Previously, the High Court had determined that the introduction of the levy unfairly targeted salaried Kenyan workers while excluding those in the informal sector, deeming it discriminatory. Justice Majanja, reading the bench’s decision, noted that the levy amendment lacked a comprehensive legal framework and contravened Article 10, 2 (a) of the Constitution.
“The levy, which exclusively applied to formal employment, without justification, is discriminatory, irrational, arbitrary, and in violation of the constitution,” declared Justice Majanja.
