Hinga Reveals Where Housing Levy Money Is Kept and Why Contracts Worth Sh800 Billion Need More Cash

Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga has defended the Affordable Housing Programme, saying the government needs additional funding to complete projects worth more than Sh800 billion.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s Monday Report, Hinga said 313,000 housing units were under construction across the country. He also cited 177,000 student accommodation beds and nearly 600 markets being developed.

Hinga said the programme had created more than 1.3 million jobs, with over 5,500 interns engaged and another 6,000 positions expected to be advertised.

He explained that housing projects typically take two to three years to complete and cannot be delivered within a single year.

According to Hinga, the programme collects about Sh84 billion annually against signed contracts worth more than Sh800 billion. He said proceeds from completed and sold housing units would help finance further construction.

Hinga also explained that the housing levy is managed separately from the Consolidated Fund. He said employers remit the levy through the Kenya Revenue Authority, with the money transferred to an account at the Central Bank of Kenya by the 15th of each month.

The programme has faced legal challenges, including a petition by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah over the Southlands project in Lang’ata. Hinga has defended the project, maintaining that the required legal and environmental procedures were followed.

He added that the programme is subject to audits and that officials had requested a special audit by the Auditor General.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1088542114170068/?app=fbl

https://www.facebook.com/reel/3553370254832143/?app=fbl