Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has challenged President William Ruto over deductions for the Affordable Housing Programme and the Social Health Authority (SHA), accusing the government of overlooking the tax burden on workers while defending its policies.
“Is he done ranting about the 24K I pay for his housing scam because kuna hii 43K I pay every month for his SHA scam? We also need to discuss,” Sifuna wrote on X on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
The senator also claimed to pay KSh500,000 in monthly Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes, accusing Ruto of spending public money on tea and mandazi at State House while criticising workers who contribute to government revenue.
Is he done ranting about the 24K I pay for his housing scam because kuna hii 43k I pay every month for his SHA scam we also need to discuss. Tukimaliza hio ndio tuongee juu ya the 500k in PAYE he takes every single month and splashes on tea and mandazi pale state house all the while insulting us the taxpayers that carry the burden of his greed. In 2027 we are cutting the fat out of our budget to bring relief to all Kenyan workers. The housing levy will go with Ruto.
— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) October 14, 2026
Sifuna maintained that the opposition would abolish the housing levy if it takes power in 2027, arguing that changes to public spending could ease the financial burden on workers.
“In 2027 we are cutting the fat out of our budget to bring relief to all Kenyan workers. The housing levy will go with Ruto,” he stated.
His response followed Ruto’s criticism of his pledge to scrap the housing levy if the opposition wins the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during his North Rift tour on Tuesday, October 13, Ruto questioned why the senator wanted to stop the Affordable Housing Programme despite the employment opportunities it creates for young Kenyans.
“Nilisikia jamaa mwingine juzi eti anasema yeye analipa KSh24,000 ya housing kutoka kwa mshahara yake na ni mtu Senator, ati yeye sasa ako na mpango ya kusimamisha hii programme ya housing ati kwa sababu analipa KSh24,000,” Ruto said.
The President urged Sifuna to reconsider his position, saying: “Mimi nataka niambie huyo jamaa, tumia akili, wacha uji.”
Ruto defended the programme, arguing that it supports livelihoods by creating jobs for young people.
“The people paying your salary are these very Kenyans. One million children of these Kenyans are working in the housing programme,” he said.