BY MH Reporter
President William Ruto must be scratching his head after his proposal to impose a housing levy on public servants was rebuffed.
Leading the chorus in denouncing the proposal by the president are Kenyan teachers and doctors.
Through their respective unions namely; The 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) – the leaders have blatantly refused the President’s proposal.
According to the public servants, the proposal won’t wash unless the government increases their salaries.
“As unions, we condemn in the strongest terms the heartless, insensitive, and cavalier manner in which the Government is proposing to impose a housing levy without any commensurate increment in workers’ emoluments. We demand the immediate reversal of the levy,” said KUSU Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya.
“As stakeholders in the labour movement, we will soon decide on the way forward on the continuous Government’s insensitivity to the plight of workers, especially in the public service.” – Added Mukhwaya.
The officials noted that the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), National Social Security Fund (NSSF), and other taxes have increased – yet their salaries have remained the same.
Ruto has proposed to tax 3 percent of workers’ monthly basic salary to fund a housing project.
Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu has called for proper consultations.
“Who does not need proper housing, who does not need affordable housing? But should it come without proper consultations at all? And should it come at a time when workers, and in this case, teachers, signed a cashless Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)?” wondered Oyuu.