President William Ruto declaration that all civil servants will have a 3 per cent deduction from their salaries, which will be contributed to the Housing Fund has elicited mixed reactions among Kenyans.

The president made this announcement on Sunday during a Church service at Friends Church (Quakers) in Donholm, Nairobi.

According to Ruto, the deductions are aimed at helping Kenyans access affordable housing, and it was emphasized that the date for the deductions to take effect was not yet disclosed.

Ruto stated every Kenyan would be able to contribute 3 per cent of their salary towards affordable housing, and for every 3 per cent someone saves, the employer will be required by law to save an extra 3 per cent.

The government will be at the forefront of implementing this, and for all government employees - approximately 700,000 - the government will save 3 per cent for them after they have made their own 3 per cent contribution.

Read More

  1. Reopening of schools for second term postponed indefinitely owing to floods
  2. NCBA Bank celebrates Eastleigh Branch success with a vibrant customer forum
  3. Karen residents threaten to block construction of Sh1.2 billion Ngong rail

"Every Kenyan will be able to contribute 3 per cent of their salary towards affordable housing. For every 3 per cent someone saves, the employer will be required by law to save an extra 3 per cent," Ruto said.

"As a government, we will be at the forefront in implementing this. For all employees of the government - approximately 700,000 - we will be saving 3 per cent for them after they have made their own 3 per cent contribution."

The President explained civil servants had to make the contributions to create a fund that would assist people in Kenya to acquire homes.

The President added that Kenya currently had only 40,000 mortgages, and his administration would raise that amount to 2 million in line with the country's economy.

Furthermore, the government aims to construct over 200,000 affordable housing units by 2027 to benefit 2-3 million households.

Ruto announced that the government had already constructed 30,000 affordable housing units in Nairobi and that he would begin the construction of an extra 30,000 units in Makongeni within the next two weeks.

"In the next two weeks, I will be in Makongeni to start construction of an extra 30,000 units. We have a plan to be constructing 100,000 affordable houses every year in Nairobi," he promised.

Here are a few sentiments as expressed on social media: