Civil Rights organisations have moved to the High Court in Nairobi to challenge President William Ruto’s housing levy, calling it unfair, unconstitutional, and politically motivated.
The petition, filed on Monday, is spearheaded by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Transparency International Kenya, Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi, The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA), and Siasa Place. They argue that the levy, deducted from the payslips of formally employed Kenyans, is being used as a political tool ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to the petitioners, the president has been using the housing scheme to win over key constituencies by reserving houses for specific groups — including teachers, security officers, and even the Harambee Stars football team — without approval from the Affordable Housing Board.
“This is not a housing programme for all Kenyans. It is an election strategy disguised as development,” one of the lawyers representing the groups said after filing.
The groups insist that the levy unfairly targets salaried workers, most of whom will never access the houses despite contributing monthly deductions. Private citizens John Maina and Marshalls Ongaya have joined the case, citing systemic discrimination that violates Article 27 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination.
The petition also pokes holes in the government’s claim that the housing programme has spurred growth and created jobs. They cite the 2024 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) report, which revealed the construction sector shrank by 0.7 percent, cement use fell by 7.2 percent, steel imports dropped 12 percent, and jobs in the sector declined by 4.2 percent.
The petitioners now want the court to immediately suspend the levy, declare it unconstitutional, and compel the Affordable Housing Board to create a fair, transparent, and inclusive allocation framework.
The state has not yet responded to the suit.
