The government has dismissed COTU claims that the Affordable Housing funds will be erroneously used to construct social amenities and markets.

On Tuesday, June 3, the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) issued a statement accusing the government of straying from its promise of strictly using funds for the affordable housing levy.

“Under the Affordable Housing Regulations, housing levy funds may now, erroneously, be used to construct health facilities, pre-primary education centers, basic education centers, fire stations, police posts, social halls, markets, and open spaces, under the guise of “associated social infrastructure.” While these are all important public services, they fall well outside the scope of what Kenyan workers were promised when this levy was introduced,” the statement read.

However, PS Charles Hinga on Friday, June 6, said COTU is misleading Kenyans, since they were also part of the team that drafted the law for houses and supporting amenities.

“It came as a surprise to us, the statement by COTU, because COTU is one of very few organizations that had the privilege of drafting the act, and drafting the regulations. In fact, they are represented in person,” Hinga said.

Hinga said the levy is not just providing homes for Kenyans, but is a package providing schools, hospitals, and other amenities, which brings services closer to them.

“You can build houses, but if you are far away from those social facilities, schools, clinics, workplaces, then you will have not solved the problem. That is why in the affordable housing act, it says it is the construction of affordable housing and associated social and physical infrastructure,” he added