Former State House Senior Adviser Moses Kuria has taken a swipe at Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, accusing him of failing to grasp the difference between two of President William Ruto’s flagship programmes the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Affordable Housing scheme.
Kuria’s criticism followed Mwaura’s Thursday interview on Inooro FM, where the spokesperson admitted he was “confused” about how much Kenyans are deducted monthly for the two initiatives.
Mwaura went further to say he could not explain why savings from the monthly housing levy could not be redirected as deposits for home ownership under the scheme.
“I am not sure which deducts more money than the other. I’ll have to consult because I do not want to give the wrong information,” Mwaura told listeners.
The admission drew a sharp rebuke from Kuria, who argued that as the official voice of government, Mwaura should be the last person in public office to appear uninformed on matters affecting citizens’ paychecks.
“The Government Spokesman does not know how much the deductions for SHA and Housing Levy are. He says he is confused about which is which,” Kuria said. “I urge my friend Nderitu Waihura (the host) to invite him back once he establishes exactly how much Kenyans are being deducted for the two levies.”
Both SHA and the Affordable Housing programme have faced heated public scrutiny since their launch, but President Ruto has repeatedly defended them as central pillars of his Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Under the housing programme, employees contribute 1.5 percent of their gross monthly salary, while SHA takes 2.75 percent, with a minimum monthly deduction of Ksh300.
Housing applicants are required to register on the Boma Yangu portal or via *832# to begin saving towards home ownership.
Despite criticism, Ruto insists the schemes are designed to expand access to affordable homes and healthcare for millions of Kenyans, particularly those at the grassroots.
