Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has come out to appreciate the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, for speaking out on the diversion of the affordable housing levy to the construction of other non-housing amenities.

Speaking during a church service in Malindi on Sunday, June 8, 2025, Gachagua said he is now pleased to see Atwoli finally breaking his silence, noting that he had remained quiet for too long while many issues requiring his attention were going wrong.

According to Gachagua, Atwoli’s voice on the matter of diverting the housing levy to other projects was necessary.

Gachagua further claimed that the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), of which Atwoli is a trustee, has also been diverted to fund the construction of the Bomas of Kenya, a project he described as a private venture involving top government officials and riddled with conflicts of interest.

He added that part of the same funds had been used to finance the construction of the Mau Summit-Rironi Road.

“Na tunashukuru kuona huyu Atwoli ameongea; alikuwa amenyamaza sana. Sasa amefungua macho, na tunaomba ifunguke sana kwa sababu pale kwa NSSF, ambapo yeye ni trustee, pesa ya wafanyakazi ambao wataenda retire imekuwa diverted kwenda kujenga Bomas of Kenya, ambayo ni project private, ambayo ni ya watu wako pale na wako kwa serikali. pesa ya NSSf inachukuliwa Kwenda kujenga Barabara ya Rironi Mau Summit,” Gachagua said.

Loosely translated as “We are thankful to see that Atwoli has spoken; he had been very silent. Now he has opened his eyes, and we hope he opens them fully because over at the NSSF, where he is a trustee, workers’ retirement money has been diverted to build the Bomas of Kenya, which is a private project belonging to individuals who are there and in the government. NSSF money is being taken to build the Rironi–Mau Summit road.”

Gachagua called upon Atwoli to also speak out on the diversion of NSSF funds to the Rironi–Mau Summit road project, just as he had done with the housing levy.

“Kwa hivyo tunataka wewe Bwana atwoli vile umeongea mambo ya housing tungetaka pia tusikie sauti kwa nini pesa ya NSSF, inachukuliwa kinyume na Sheria inachukulia Kwenda kufanya miradi bomas of kenya na Mau summit Rironi” Gachagua added

Translated as: “So, we want you, Mr Atwoli, since you have spoken about housing issues; we would also like to hear your voice on why NSSF money is being taken contrary to the law to fund projects like Bomas of Kenya and the Mau Summit–Rironi road.”

This comes a day after the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Kenya) raised alarm on the diversion of the Affordable Housing Levy, warning that redirecting workers’ contributions to non-housing projects threatens to derail the programme’s core objective.

Atwoli’s warning

Speaking on Saturday, June 7, 2025, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli accused the government of sidelining labour unions in policy decisions that directly affect workers.

Atwoli cautioned that the levy, which was initially meant to facilitate the construction of affordable homes for Kenyan workers, was being increasingly diverted to infrastructure projects already covered by the national budget.

“As COTU (K), we are clear and unequivocal that there was no consultation because if there were any, we would never have agreed to the affordable housing levy being used to build amenities and infrastructure that are already budgeted for within the National Budget,” Atwoli said.

He warned that if this trend continues unchecked, the housing levy could end up funding large-scale government projects like roads and dams, leaving workers without the homes they were promised.

The union then turned to President William Ruto to restore the integrity of the levy, calling for urgent action to refocus the initiative on its intended purpose.