Nairobi, March 13 -- President William Ruto was on Tuesday handed a major win in his push to entrench the controversial Affordable Housing Bill 2023 after Kenya Kwanza senators defeated amendments proposed by the opposition.

The Bill seeks to give the government the green light to resume implementing the President's pet homes programme by collecting a 1.5 percent levy on workers' gross pay.

In marathon House business that went on to just five minutes shy of 7pm, senators allied to the President voted overwhelmingly to defeat amendments made by the minority side that would have brought relief to many Kenyans.

Reading the final results of the voting, Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi said 27 senators voted to support the Bill, approv...