The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Police deployed tear gas to disperse a crowd of young protesters expressing their dissatisfaction with the court’s ruling regarding the Housing Levy on Tuesday.
The demonstrators had gathered outside Milimani Law Courts, brandishing branches and chanting “haki yetu” (our rights). Dressed in construction attire, they urged the government to continue the housing project.
They carried placards with messages such as “Affordable Housing is not just a programme. It’s a lifeline for a better quality of life.”
One protester, an electrical engineer, lamented the lack of employment opportunities, expressing disappointment after the court’s decision as he had hoped to benefit from the government’s project.
Another protester emphasized the necessity of the Housing Levy, stating, “Housing levy is a must. As a worker, I plead for the work to continue because, without this project, people will resort to illegal ways.”
The Affordable Housing Levy was deemed unconstitutional by the High Court on November 28, 2023, and this decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal on Friday.
The court rejected the state’s request to suspend the implementation of the High Court judgement pending the outcome of their appeal, asserting that the public interest lies in awaiting the resolution of the appeal. Justices Lydia Achode, John Mativo, and Gatembu Kairu stated that public interest favors awaiting the determination of the issues raised in the intended appeals.
