The government has announced that it is open to changes on the Housing Fund, which has been met with mixed reactions from Kenyans.
Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga said that the government is willing to amend the fund to reflect the views of different stakeholders.
"We may disagree on the approach and there are contentious issues in the Bill that need to be cured and I hope this Committee will do so," Hinga said.
"We can correct it, but let's not lose focus of why we are advocating for it. We are doing this because we have reached a reckoning point," he added.
Hinga was appearing before the National Assembly's Finance Committee, which is scrutinizing the Finance Bill 2023, which contains the Housing Fund.
The fund would require Kenyans to contribute 3% of their monthly salaries towards housing. The money would be used to finance the construction of affordable housing units.
However, the fund has been met with criticism from Kenyans, who argue that it is a burden on taxpayers. They also argue that the government has not done enough to address the high cost of land and construction, which are major challenges to the realization of the fund.
Hinga said that the government is aware of the concerns raised by Kenyans and is willing to address them. He said that the government is working on a plan to address the high cost of land and construction.
He also said that the government is considering making the fund voluntary, instead of mandatory.
The Finance Committee is expected to make its recommendations on the Housing Fund to the National Assembly before the Bill is debated and voted on.
The government's decision to open to changes on the Housing Fund is a welcome move. It shows that the government is listening to the concerns of Kenyans and is willing to make changes to the fund to make it more beneficial to Kenyans.
It remains to be seen what changes the government will make to the fund. However, the government's willingness to make changes is a positive step.
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