Nairobi — The implementation of President William Ruto's Affordable Housing Program is gaining momentum after legislators approved its legal framework to proceed to the second reading.
The Affordable Housing Bill, championed by Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa, has advanced to the committee of the whole house stage following the endorsement of 141 MPs, while 58 lawmakers opposed it.
Moving to the Committee of the Whole House stage permits lawmakers to propose amendments to the original bill before its final approval during the Third Reading.
During a parliamentary group meeting in Naivasha on Monday, President Ruto urged Kenya Kwanza Alliance MPs to support the bill, warning that their constituents would judge them harshly if they rejected it.
Ahead of the vote, Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa urged MPs to back the bill for the second reading, emphasizing its visionary framework aimed at alleviating unemployment in the country.
"I challenge any MP to oppose this bill, as it provides crucial job creation opportunities for our people," Ichungwa asserted.
While introducing the motion, Molo MP Kimani Kuria, who co-chaired the joint parliamentary committee, highlighted plans to propose amendments to address concerns raised during public participation on the Affordable Housing Bill.
"We will be introducing several amendments to address the concerns raised by MPs and the public, particularly regarding land ownership and the transfer of housing units," Kuria explained.
Among the proposed amendments is the removal of the requirement for a ten percent deposit before acquiring a housing unit.
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"We have heeded the concerns of Kenyans who find the proposed 10% deposit too burdensome and unaffordable for many who wish to participate in this program," Kuria elaborated.
Kuria further emphasized the committee's commitment to introducing amendments to ensure equitable housing ownership and prevent the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by the wealthy.
"There were concerns that the wealthy might seize housing units at the expense of the less fortunate. We will propose measures to restrict ownership to one house per ID or KRA PIN," Kuria assured.
However, Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi proposed postponing the introduction of amendments until Thursday to allow ample time for legislators to consider their proposals.
"Given the numerous amendments suggested by various members on this contentious bill, I request that we postpone the debate until Thursday to accommodate as many amendments as possible," Opiyo appealed.
In response, Ichungwa opposed the Minority Leader's request, emphasizing the need to proceed with the debate without further delay.
"We cannot postpone the debate on this bill any longer. Amendments can be proposed, and we can even accommodate them through a supplementary order paper, but the debate must proceed tomorrow," Ichungwa insisted.
