The Affordable Housing Bill of 2023, which aims to legalize a housing levy, is nearing its final stages of public input.
Joint committees from the National Assembly focusing on housing and finance are hurrying to conclude discussions on the bill, anticipating its return within the next two weeks.
Chair of the housing committee, Johana Ngeno, outlined the timeline, expressing the intention to wrap up public participation by Wednesday.
Ngeno indicated plans to present the bill to President William Ruto for approval after a week of debate.
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“We’re aiming for the President’s signature within two weeks.
Our schedule involves concluding public participation tomorrow, hearing from the Attorney General, and then proceeding to present the bill alongside public feedback for parliamentary debate next week,” stated Ngeno.
While acknowledging potential challenges in the House Business Committee’s agenda, Ngeno remained optimistic about the bill’s priority status for the upcoming parliamentary sessions.
The committee assured stakeholders that all feedback received during public participation would be carefully considered to ensure the bill’s alignment with diverse interests.
During a recent session, the National Lands Commission (NLC) voiced concerns about potential conflicts arising from the national government’s acquisition of county land for affordable housing projects.
NLC Chair Gershom Otachi recommended incorporating clauses into the bill to address the transfer of public land ownership.
Highlighting the absence of Attorney General Justin Muturi for a second consecutive meeting, the committee expressed disappointment, especially considering the bill’s governmental nature.
It’s worth noting that the courts previously suspended the proposed 1.5% levy on gross salaries, deeming it unconstitutional.
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