Why lawyers have issues with Ruto's housing pledge to police and teachers

Thousands of teachers and police officers promised cheap houses by President William Ruto may have to look elsewhere if two lawyers have their way. John Maina and Tito Ongoya argue that Dr Ruto had elevated a section Kenyans to be more important animals in the farm, despite the requirement that all who are interested being required to go through the same process. In a case filed in the High Court of Thursday, the lawyers accuse the President of illegally assuming the powers given to the Affordable Housing Board by directing that teachers and police officers should get houses in the ongoing project. Besides the board, they have sued the Attorney General, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary, National Police Service, Teachers Service Commission, Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), Kenya Union of Post Primary( Kuppet) and Kenya Primary School Heads Association. "The allocations create an unlawful preference for teachers and police officers over the other citizens, undermining the principle of equality and non-discrimination," the two argued. Maina and Tito said that the same had also not been approved by Parliament. Addressing a teachers' delegation at State House on September 13, President Ruto made commitments that touched on almost every major education debate. First, he promised a review of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) timelines, cutting the negotiation period from four years to two or three. "We cannot take four years to sort out teachers' issues," he said, directing union leaders to engage the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) immediately. More than 10,000 teachers, mobilized through their unions, attended the function. On school financing, the president pledged to align capitation funds with policy recommendations: Sh2,300 per primary school pupil and Sh22,244 for each secondary school student. "We will clear half of the outstanding balance in the next financial year and settle the rest in the year after that," he said, promising to close what unions estimate as a Sh64 billion gap. He went further, announcing that 20 per cent of affordable housing units under the government's flagship housing project would be reserved for teachers. On health, Ruto said he was dissatisfied with the existing Minet medical cover and ordered its replacement. Teachers, he added, would be moved into the Social Health Authority (SHA), with a supplemental scheme under discussion. The president also announced plans to recruit long-neglected P1 teachers who have waited for employment since 2011, and directed that CBC resource centres be established in every sub-county in partnership with MPs through CDF. "Education is at the heart of our transformation agenda. My wife, a teacher, always reminds me that in teaching you move from the known to the unknown. Today, I want teachers to know their government is committed to resolving their problems," Ruto declared. On June 3 and September 13, the president also promised disciplined forces, including the police, another share of the houses. However, in court, Kamau and Tito stated that he forgot or failed to promise millions of Kenyans contributing for the housing levy the same alleged preferential treatment. " The selective privileges of specific groups undermine the national values and principles of governance under Article 10, particularly inclusiveness, equality and participation of the people," they argued.

Why lawyers have issues with Ruto's housing pledge to police and teachers

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