The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) has raised the alarm over new Affordable Housing Regulations, warning that the proposed changes could open the door to misusing funds meant to provide decent housing for Kenyan workers.
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, COTU urged President William Ruto to step in and prevent what it called a “looming threat” to the integrity of the Affordable Housing Levy. The union expressed deep concern over the revised regulations, which have already passed through the National Assembly and now await final approval by the Attorney General.
Under the proposed rules, funds collected through the housing levy could be redirected to projects such as police stations, health centres, fire stations, markets, and other forms of social infrastructure. While COTU acknowledged that these services are essential, it insisted they fall outside the primary purpose of delivering affordable homes to Kenyan workers.
“These regulations will introduce a loophole that could see Members of Parliament channel housing levy funds into projects that fall outside the core mandate of providing decent and affordable housing,” said COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli.
The union reiterated that the levy’s original goal was to help ordinary Kenyan workers own homes, not to finance unrelated infrastructure. COTU warned that unless the government amends the regulations, the fund could become a political slush fund instead of a tool to address the country’s housing shortage.
Atwoli Laments Lack of Public Participation
Adding to its concerns, COTU expressed outrage over what it described as a total lack of public consultation. The union revealed that its representatives, who speak for over 90% of the workers contributing to the levy, were excluded from the regulatory drafting process.
“At no point were the Kenyan workers represented by COTU consulted during the drafting of these regulations,” the statement said.
COTU condemned Parliament for pushing the regulations forward without conducting meaningful public participation. The union said the move undermines transparency and accountability, and sets a worrying precedent for how government policy is shaped.
“Without a doubt, no form of meaningful public participation was conducted before the regulations were adopted by Parliament,” the union added.
COTU reminded the government that it had initially supported the Affordable Housing Programme, believing it would deliver dignified homes for Kenyan workers. But with the new regulations threatening to dilute that promise, the union warned that it would not support any efforts to divert funds away from the core mission.
Atwoli made it clear that the union is ready to defend workers’ rights and demand transparency in how the government manages their contributions.
COTU is now calling on President Ruto to act swiftly and decisively to protect the fund’s original intent.
“We call upon the President to intervene decisively to protect the rights of workers and ensure that the Affordable Housing Fund is used solely and strictly for its intended purposee,” Atwoli said.
