PS Hinga Refutes COTU Claims, Affirms Union’s Role in Housing Policy Process
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By John Kariuki
Nairobi, Kenya – Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga has firmly pushed back against claims by the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) that it was excluded from the formulation of the Affordable Housing Regulations, 2024.
In a detailed statement issued Saturday, Hinga described COTU’s assertions as “misleading,” emphasizing the union’s direct involvement in the legislative process. He noted that COTU formally nominated Brother Ernest Nadome to the Inter-Agency Committee developing the regulations, through a letter signed by COTU Secretary General Dr. Francis Atwoli on March 25, 2024.
“COTU’s participation was not symbolic—it was active and meaningful,” said Hinga. “To now suggest exclusion misrepresents the facts.”
He further clarified that COTU holds a permanent seat on the Affordable Housing Board, as stipulated by law, ensuring worker representation in policy implementation and oversight.
COTU had raised objections to the use of housing levy funds for projects like fire stations, markets, and social halls. In response, Hinga said such infrastructure is not optional but essential under the Affordable Housing Act, 2024—legislation rooted in policy frameworks dating back to 2018.
“Affordable housing is not just about walls and roofs,” Hinga explained. “It includes vital amenities that make communities livable, inclusive, and sustainable.”
Dr. Atwoli has demanded proof of COTU’s formal endorsement of the current regulations, but PS Hinga stood firm, reiterating the government’s commitment to deliver 250,000 housing units annually, embedded within complete and functional communities.
“This is about building dignity through development, and the law is clear on what that entails,” he said.
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