{"id":112014,"date":"2024-01-30T18:16:30","date_gmt":"2024-01-30T18:16:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/kenya\/all-news\/cops-lob-teargas-at-youth-protesting-housing-levy-ruling"},"modified":"2024-01-30T19:15:31","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T19:15:31","slug":"cops-lob-teargas-at-youth-protesting-housing-levy-ruling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/kenya\/all-news\/cops-lob-teargas-at-youth-protesting-housing-levy-ruling","title":{"rendered":"Cops lob teargas at youth protesting housing levy ruling"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Kenya. <\/strong><\/span>Police on Tuesday lobbed tear gas at a group of youth protesting against the court’s ruling on the Housing Levy.<\/p>\n

The demonstrators had held a march outside Milimani Law Courts waving twigs and chanting “haki yetu”.<\/p>\n

They were clad in the constructor’s attire, demanding that the government continue with the housing project.<\/p>\n

They also had placards written “Affordable Housing is not just a programme. It’s a lifeline for a better quality of life.”<\/p>\n

One of the protesters, an electrical engineer decried lack of employment, saying he had hopes of getting money from the government’s project before the court’s ruling.<\/p>\n

“Housing levy lazima. Mimi kama mfanyakazi naomba kazi iendelee kwa sababu bila hiyo watu wataingililia vitu mbaya,” another said.<\/p>\n

This is loosely translated to, “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.”<\/p>\n

The Affordable Housing Levy was termed unconstitutional by the High Court on November 28, 2023, and the declaration was upheld on Friday by the Court of Appeal.<\/p>\n

The court declined the state’s application to halt the implementation of the High Court judgement which rendered the housing levy unconstitutional pending the determination of their appeal.<\/p>\n

Justices Lydia Achode, John Mativo and Gatembu Kairu said public interest lies in awaiting the determination of the appeal.<\/p>\n

“Public interest in our view tilts in favour of not granting the stay or the suspension sought. Public interest tilts in favour awaiting the determination of the issues raised in the intended appeals,” the appellate judges said.
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