The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Nyamira branch has opposed the Finance Bill 2023 which proposes a 3 per cent salary cut to finance the national housing programme initiated by President Ruto.
Led by the branch Executive Secretary Nicholas Nyang’au, they said that teachers already have good homes and there was no need to further deduct money from their meagre salaries.
“Our pay slips are already committed to many taxes and we ask the President to shelve this Bill for now,” he said.
Nyang’au said teachers were already burdened with Pay As You Earn (PAYE), National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and National Hospital Insurance (NHIF) and were not ready to contribute to the new levy.
Saying that the teaching fraternity is not against development, he asked the government to instead make the housing levy a voluntary scheme.
“Let those who are willing to remit their money to the scheme do it with their hearts but not through intimidation,” he said.
The KNUT boss appealed to Members of Parliament (MP) to oppose the bill when tabled in Parliament.
He appealed to the President to finance agriculture, reduce number of ministries and improve transport and infrastructure in order to improve the economy.
By Enock Okong’o
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