Nairobi — President William Ruto has urged able Kenyans to assist the destitute and underprivileged.
The head of state in twitter on Monday, said that Kenyans should always consider how to assist humanity, extend a helping hand, and wipe away people's tears.
"Today, there is a lot of poverty in the land, so if our God Almighty has blessed you, be a blessing to others, extend a helping hand to those in need. Remember, your giving, is also a way of appreciating divine blessings, bounties, and favour of God Almighty upon you," he wrote.
President Ruto added that humanity should come first before what we as a country stand to gain out of the situation.
Referring to Kevin Carter, a South African photojournalist who took a photo of a vulture waiting for a starving little girl to die and feast on her corps, Ruto said that when people seek knowledge, wealth, fame, skills or even positions, it is good to think how to use them to benefit the people and society at large.
"It is very important that we all should help the poor and needy, the orphans and widows amongst us so that they can meet their needs. Please don't be Kevin Carter, be human and think humanity. Beware, we humans are not humans, if we lack humaneness in all we do," he added.
"When we seek knowledge, wealth, fame, skills or even positions, let's think of how we can use it to benefit the people and society at large."
He stated that, Kevin Carter could have still been alive today and even much more famous if he had just picked that little girl up and taken her to the United Nations Feeding Center, where she was attempting to reach or at least take her somewhere safe.
"Kevin Carter's depression started when during one of such interviews (a phone-in programme), someone called in and asked him what happened to the little girl. He simply replied, 'I didn't wait to find out after this shot, as I had a flight to catch' Then the caller said, 'I put it to you that there were two vultures on that day, one had a camera," he added.
The call by the president to help the needy in the country comes after the proposed Housing Levy which he defended it saying it is a sure bet to bridge the country's housing deficit.
President Ruto chastised politicians who are out to demonize an otherwise good agenda.
"How much longer do we want these people to live in slums? In my estimation, we are sixty years late in making the decision that Singapore made. I think the time is now," he said during the United Nations Habitat assembly in Gigiri.
"Many of the people who are driving this propaganda against this programme are people who a month ago were supporting this programme. There is nothing wrong with the housing programme."
The head of state further called on the political class to separate the housing programme from politics.
The Treasury initially proposed a 3 percent deduction from every employee's salary to be remitted to the National Housing Fund, with employers matching the amount.
Different national stakeholders have had varying reactions to this, with some demanding for the housing fund to be fully eliminated.
Azimio La Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, on June 7, warned of an imminent return of nationwide protests warning that should parliamentarians pass the Finance Bill unamended, the opposition would swing into action and take their grievances to the streets.
"The government will present the Bill to parliament on Thursday, June 8, and subsequently read the budget on Thursday, June 15. If they pass the Finance Bill, we will hold demonstrations in every corner of the country," he said.
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However, on Monday, President William Ruto, succumbed to pressure and slashed the Housing Fund levy by half, from the current three percent to 1.5 percent.
Reducing the percentage of the levy contained in the Finance Bill 2023 comes as a direct response to the widespread public outcry, with a considerable number of Kenyans expressing strong opposition to the scheme.
"The Housing Fund contribution has been reduced to 1.5 percent from the proposed 3 percent. Ruto listens," President Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party tweeted.
The National Assembly Finance Committee has been actively gathering input from stakeholders regarding the Bill, and the clause related to the housing levy garnered significant attention and debate.
The Committee is on Tuesday set to present the revised edition of the Bill for discussion in the House, marking the beginning of a lively debate that is anticipated to be highly spirited.
