The construction workers have for the second day camped oustside the Milimani Law Court in Nairobi due to what they term as dissatisfaction with the court’s decision to stop the proposed Affordable Housing Levy.
The demonstrators, comprised of plumbers, surveyors, electricians, and engineers, who argue that the court’s ruling has negatively impacted their livelihoods.
They said that the ruling has led to the closure of a significant number of construction sites rendering them jobless amid the ongoing debates on high rate of high unemployment rates among the young people.
President Wiliam Ruto, while in Meru on January 25, claimed that the project had employed over 130,000 youths in the country.
The protestors were dispersed by the police with placards.
Wearing construction worker attire and brandishing twigs, the demonstrators marched in front of the courthouse, chanting slogans like “haki yetu” (our rights).
Their demand is, they want the government’s housing project to resume, providing employment opportunities.
“Affordable Housing is not just a program. It’s a lifeline for a better quality of life,” said one of the contractors.
An electrical engineer expressed frustration, stating that the court’s ruling had shattered his hopes of potential work from the government’s housing project.
The High Court had declared the Affordable Housing Levy unconstitutional on November 28, 2023 , a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal last week Friday.
As a result, construction work was halted at various sites, including Kibra and Ruiru in Nairobi, where the protesters were employed.
The Head of State has urged patience from Kenyans, assuring compliance with the court order to regularize the regulations, including adequate public participation, and vowing to appeal.
With meetings in Nairobi and Mombasa counties, public hearings on the same are already underway and are set to be concluded on Wednesday.
By Matildah Obaigwa
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