Teachers hoping to benefit from President William Ruto’s promise of preferential access to Affordable Housing units have been dealt a setback after activists filed a petition challenging the move.
The petition, filed at the High Court on Thursday, September 25, targets Ruto’s assurance that 20 per cent of the houses under the program would be reserved for teachers and police officers.
The activists argue that the pledge is unconstitutional, lacked public participation, and could unfairly discriminate against other Kenyans in need of housing.
On Saturday, September 13, President Ruto had made the announcement while addressing more than 10,000 teachers at State House, Nairobi, during the Walimu na Rais forum.
He said the promise would be anchored in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government and teachers’ unions.
The meeting brought together leaders from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA), and other stakeholders in the education sector.
The President described the housing pledge as part of his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of teachers and ensuring they live in dignity.
However, the activists claim that the move sidelines millions of Kenyans outside the teaching and security professions who also face housing challenges.
They argue that the Affordable Housing program is a taxpayer-funded initiative meant to serve all citizens equitably, not a tool for selective allocation.
“The Constitution guarantees equality and non-discrimination. The President cannot, through political pronouncements, reserve a public good for a specific group without proper legal backing or public consultation,” the petition reads in part.
The legal challenge now puts teachers and police officers in limbo, as the court is set to determine whether Ruto’s pledge can stand.
The case also raises broader questions about the transparency and fairness of the Affordable Housing project, which has faced both praise and criticism since its rollout.
If the court rules against the President’s directive, unions may be forced back to the negotiating table to seek alternative welfare incentives for their members.
Link:
https://x.com/Kenyans/status/1971230992053735627?t=0hvcHxh_lUXl6rmX4PXVJg&s=19
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