(Video): Senators back 3% housing levy
The Senate Committee on Roads, Transport and Housing has thrown its weight behind the controversial three percent Housing Levy proposed in the Finance Bill of 2023.
The committee noted that if well handled, the programme could address the issue of affordable housing mainly among low wage earners.
The committee is chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa promised to introduce legislation that would make it impossible for one to own more than one housing unit.
According to Karungo, lack of information and miscommunication had painted the programme negatively, adding that the government was sincere.
He said that under the proposal that was open to government workers and hustlers, one would use his KRA PIN and Identity card to register for the houses.
Addressing the press in Naivasha after meeting senior officials from the Ministry of Lands, Karungo termed the programme as a game changer for the economy.
He noted that unlike the affordable whose ownership was unclear, the current proposal by the government was open and not prone to abuse.
On his part, Marsabit Senator Chute Mohamed decried the slow pace of approving building plans by some counties noting that this would affect the project.
He identified Kiambu as the most notorious while lauding Nakuru County for approving projects in a single day thus hastening the construction process.
Chute added that under the housing proposal, those seeking one bedroom would pay KES 1 million, two bedrooms KES 2 million and KES 3 million for three bedrooms.
Nominated Senator Peris Tobiko promised Kenyans that the Senate would put laws that would make sure that their funds were safe unlike in the past when many have lost millions of shillings.