Gov't defends State House renovation amid public outcry

Appearing before the National Assembly Administration and Internal Security Committee, Metito requested an additional KSh 3 billion for State House to finalize pending projects, including renovations.

During the presentation before the committee on Monday, State House officials defended the allocations and provided a breakdown of expenditure for the current financial year.

State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito revealed that security agencies had taken over the refurbishment projects.

"We did not have a budget for renovation. The pavilion is being constructed under the DoD budget, while the main house is being renovated by NIS. This is a security facility that attracts security budgets," said Metito.

He further justified the renovations, citing the poor state of some of the buildings.

"In Mombasa, the building was uninhabitable. We must maintain the image of a country that positions itself as a regional power," he stated.

Metito also dismissed concerns that the renovations had compromised the historical integrity of the State House.

"The building is not a flat roof. The original roof remains intact. It is still beautiful, and nothing significant has been lost in terms of heritage," he added.

Documents submitted to the committee show that State House Nairobi has so far spent KSh 775 million out of an estimated project cost of KSh 1.77 billion, with the works currently at 44% completion. It is set to receive a proposed allocation of KSh 180 million in the next financial year.

According to the Budget Policy Statement for 2025, State House has been allocated KSh 7.518 billion, with KSh 6.8 billion for recurrent expenditure and KSh 715.4 million for development expenditure. Metito explained that recurrent costs accounted for nearly 90% of the total budget.

"Most of the staff at State House are presidential personnel on contract, which means they are paid gratuity," he said.

However, Kisumu West MP Rosa Buyu criticized the expenditure, stating, "Kenyans are suffering and are being told to tighten their belts. The first belt to be tightened should be at State House. These renovations can wait until the economy stabilizes."

State House has listed several ongoing projects, which could cost up to KSh 11.5 billion upon completion. These include refurbishments at State House Mombasa and Nakuru, as well as state lodges in Eldoret, Sagana, Kisumu, Kakamega, Kisii, and Mtito Andei.

Additional projects involve construction and civil works worth KSh 3 billion and the purchase of specialized equipment and machinery.

The 118-year-old State House has undergone major changes. The previously hipped roof with terracotta tiles is no longer visible due to the addition of an enhanced vertical wall along the roofline. The chimneys, once a distinct feature, have also been removed.

Additionally, the old structure featured two drive-through entrance porches, which have now been replaced with a single central porch.