The high court in Kisumu has dismissed the affordable housing bill petition and allowed the motion to proceed to the senate for discussion.
The bill which was passed in Parliament is yet to be presented in the floor of the house for discussion before it’s finally signed into law by President William Ruto.
Filing the Housing bill petition, Lawrence Omule Apiyo wanted the discussion of the affordable housing bill to be stopped by the court from proceeding further to the senate for discussion.
He argued that the Housing Bill had not been subjected to satisfactory public participation before it was tabled to Parliament for debate.
Also Read: Gov’t Issue New Directive To Kenyans Including Activation Fee For Affordable Housing Account
However, the court ruled that parliament was compliant to public participation and held the exercise within the constitutional parameters.
“The third respondent (National Assembly) cannot be faulted for the manner in which it has conducted public participation in respect of the Affordable Housing Bill No 75 of 2023. This court finds that public participation conducted by the third respondent was effective and constitutionally compliant.”
According to reports, members of the public were invited on December 9, 2023 to physically present their comments about the bill to Parliament Buildings, Nairobi or send them through a provided email address with a deadline set for December 28, 2023.
National Assembly argued that after issuing the aforementioned invite for public comments, it went ahead and conducted public participation by creating public awareness and contacting the public through meetings and feedback mechanism.
Also Read: Outrage After Bungoma Doctor Reveals He Favoured Boy During C-section Twin Delivery
This means that the affordable housing bill will proceed to the floor of the senate without interference and will be discussed upon which if the majority feel like its substantial, they will pass it before the President signs it into law.