Controversy Over State House Renovations: A Costly Transformation

The renovations of Kenya's State House and eight other state lodges have sparked heated debate after it was revealed that over the past two years, more than half a billion Kenyan shillings have been spent on these refurbishments. These projects are part of a 12-year plan expected to cost taxpayers over 10 billion shillings.

In January 2024, the main building of Nairobi's State House was closed for renovations, prompting President William Ruto to relocate his operations to a newly built pavilion for hosting cabinet meetings and visiting dignitaries. Images of the revamped State House surfaced last week when the Guinea-Bissau president visited, showcasing significant architectural changes, including the removal of the iconic terracotta-tiled roof and entrance porches. Experts believe the roof now features a parapet, a vertical wall running along the roofline, drastically altering the building's appearance.

This is the second major renovation of State House Nairobi in just over two years. In late 2022, after President Ruto took office, the premises were repainted, and the courtyard received a new cabro surface. A decade-old wooden pavilion was also replaced with a state-of-the-art meeting space.

Budget Concerns and Funding Cuts

According to the Controller of Budget, the overall renovation project is estimated at 10.7 billion shillings, set to continue until June 2027. As of September 2024, 3.3 billion shillings had already been spent, with Nairobi’s renovation alone valued at 1.7 billion shillings. However, no funds were allocated between June and December 2024 following budget cuts imposed by President Ruto after the withdrawal of Finance Bill 2024. Despite this, construction continued, raising concerns about potential pending bills that may not yet be officially recorded.

Beyond Nairobi, other state lodges have also received substantial funding:

Mombasa State Lodge: 311 million KES

Nakuru State Lodge: 116 million KES

Eldoret State Lodge: 36.7 million KES

Kisumu State Lodge: 10.3 million KES

Sagana State Lodge: 30.8 million KES

Kakamega State Lodge: 15.9 million KES

Kisii State Lodge: 9.8 million KES

Mtongwe State Lodge: 220,000 KES

So far, the development expenditure for State House renovations has reached 2.9 billion KES, falling short of the 3.7 billion KES budgeted. However, the total funding requirement for all nine projects exceeds 7 billion KES, raising concerns over how the remaining amount will be financed.

Public and Expert Reactions

The renovations have sparked mixed reactions among Kenyans, with some questioning the necessity of such an expensive redesign. Architectural Association of Kenya President Florence Nyole criticized the project, stating that it has fundamentally altered the identity of State House. She suggested that public buildings requiring renovation should be listed as national heritage sites and subjected to public scrutiny before any modifications.

The debate over costs and design is ongoing, with many questioning whether the real expenditure surpasses the reported figures. As the controversy grows, further scrutiny is expected from both the public and oversight bodies.