During a thanksgiving prayer on Sunday held at Busia county, President William Ruto defended the move to have a three per cent tax on house scheme, accusing those earning hefty salaries to be opposing the deduction for fear of being affected.
According to the President, the plan targets people earning salaries and has got payslips, hence he wants the majority of you who do not have a job to get one through this housing program.
Ruto accused those against the plan of lacking viable reason for objecting to it.
Addressing the congregation at Busia interdenominational prayers, the president maintained that more than 5000 youths will get a job during the construction of the units.
“Already 42 counties have confirmed that they have land where we are going to put 5000 units. I need at least 25,000 youths who will work as plumbers, electricians among other specialists to work at these sites,” said Mr Ruto.
On export processing zones, (EPZ) the president noted that the government has allocated money to set processing zones at Nasewa in Matayos as a way of elevating the economy of Busia.
“We have allocated 100 billion shillings to set up export processing zones in Sagana, Nakuru, Delomonte in Thika, one in Uasin Gishu and one here in Busia at Nasewa.These zones will create employment opportunities for our people,” he said
He announced that both the county and the National government has allocated sh500 million to set up an industrial park in Busia to give room for aggregation, manufacturing and value addition to farm produce.
“We are setting up aggregation and industrial parks in 14 counties and Busia is number one. We will supply seeds of the sim, and ground nuts among other products to produce edible oil. We spend sh100 billion every year importing edible oil yet Busia is capable to produce it.
“Through aggregation, manufacturing and value addition, these industrial parks we will create thousands of job opportunities for our people.”
Busia governor Dr Paul Otuoma noted that he will work closely with the National government to realise development in the county.
“I was elected on Azimio ticket but when it comes to development, I must work with the national government in place for the better of my people,” he said
According to him, there is no need for Busia to be at the border and yet it is among the poorest counties in Kenya.
“It is unfortunate that Busia is among the poorest counties in Kenya yet we have the potential to do great things. We need to have plans to elevate the economy of Busia,” he noted
The president who was accompanied by Cabinet secretaries in charge of trade and industrialization Mr Moses Kuria and his sports counterpart Mr Ababu Namwamba among other dignitaries promised to dualize a 6 kilometres stretch of road from Busia one-stop broader post to Korinda to ease truck congestion.
“In my budget, I have allocated money to dualize Busia- Kisumu road from the border to Korinda and Malaba- Bungoma road to ease the traffic caused by trucks,” he said