NAIROBI, Kenya – The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) has rejected claims by the Principal Secretary for Housing and Urban Development, Charles Hinga, that the union was involved in drafting the regulations governing the Affordable Housing scheme.
In a rebuttal, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli challenged Hinga to provide evidence showing that the union had any formal or informal role in approving the Affordable Housing Act or its implementing regulations.
“As COTU, we have never been consulted in the development, review, or approval of these regulations,” Atwoli said in a statement. “At no point did the Executive Board, which is the legally mandated organ responsible for such decisions, meet to deliberate or support the current regulations.”
Atwoli further demanded that Hinga produce written resolutions, official minutes, or correspondence from COTU’s Executive Board endorsing the drafting or contents of the regulations.
He emphasized that the presence of Ernest Nadome, COTU’s representative on the Affordable Housing Fund Board, does not imply the union’s institutional approval without explicit consent from the leadership.
“It is both dangerous and misleading to equate one individual’s presence on a board with COTU’s official position,” Atwoli said, adding that Nadome himself confirmed to the union leadership that no consultation had taken place.
The union leader also accused the government of diverting funds from the Affordable Housing levy to finance unrelated infrastructure projects such as markets, health facilities, and police posts—moves he said stray from the levy’s original purpose of building affordable homes.
“Under the current regulations, funds are being misused to build social infrastructure under the guise of ‘associated amenities,’” Atwoli warned, urging President William Ruto to intervene and ensure the levy is used strictly for housing.
As COTU (K) we are clear and unequivocal that there was no consultation because if there was any we would never have agreed to the affordable housing levy being used to build amenities and infrastructure that are already budgeted for within the National Budget.If this trend
The dispute follows President Ruto’s recent announcement that proceeds from the housing levy would be used to construct 260 markets across Kenya, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from COTU and other stakeholders.
In response, PS Hinga defended the government’s position, stating that COTU had indeed participated in committees that formulated the Affordable Housing Act and regulations, which explicitly provide for the development of houses alongside social and physical infrastructure necessary for settlements.
“COTU was represented in person in the formulation of this Act and its regulations. Even the 2018 Act specifies houses plus social and physical infrastructure,” Hinga said.
