Audit exposes counties wastage of millions on stalled governors' residences
In Kwale, the governor’s residence remains incomplete despite an initial budget of Sh149 million, well above the SRC limit. The contractor, who had already received Sh119.78 million, abandoned the site due to unpaid dues.
More than a decade into devolution, 11 counties are still using millions of taxpayer money to rent residences for governors and their deputies, defying a directive to build official homes.
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had instructed county governments to cease rent payments for top officials by June 30, 2022, and instead construct residences on public land.
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Despite this, an audit report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu for the 2023/2024 financial year reveals that many counties continue to incur these expenses, leading to major financial losses.
In a May 20, 2019, circular, the SRC outlined specific requirements: governors’ residences should be built on two acres, while their deputies and county speakers should be allocated one acre each.
The cost was capped at Sh45 million for governors, Sh40 million for deputies, and Sh35 million for county speakers.
However, some counties have not allocated any funds for construction, while others have exceeded the cost ceilings or left projects stalled despite huge expenditures.
The report highlights several cases of non-compliance. Kericho County has yet to budget for official residences, forcing continued rent payments.
Site abandoned
In Kwale, the governor’s residence remains incomplete despite an initial budget of Sh149 million, well above the SRC limit. The contractor, who had already received Sh119.78 million, abandoned the site due to unpaid dues.
In Tana River County, construction of the deputy governor’s residence began on April 14, 2023, at a cost of Sh39.8 million but had stalled by October 2024.
In Lamu, a Sh44 million governor’s residence project that began in March 2021 remains unfinished four years later. Embu’s governor’s residence, awarded in March 2021 for Sh49.7 million, has also stalled.
Turkana County first awarded a contract for the governor’s residence in the 2013-2014 financial year but terminated it a year later after paying Sh120.2 million. A new contract was issued in 2019 for Sh90.5 million, but the project remains incomplete.
Similarly, Bomet County’s governor’s residence, budgeted at Sh78 million, stalled with only 51 per cent of work done despite Sh48.5 million being paid by June 2024.
Samburu County’s governor’s residence, awarded at Sh87.5 million, also remains unfinished.
Other counties are also struggling with delays. In Nandi, the construction of the governor’s office has been delayed, while in Baringo, the county executive spent Sh1,080,000 on rent for the deputy governor’s residence.
Vihiga County paid Sh42.9 million for the governor’s and deputy governor’s residences, but both remain incomplete.
Nyandarua County violated SRC’s directive by constructing the governor’s residence on 3.4 acres instead of the required two acres.
The audit findings raise concerns about wasteful spending, stalled projects, and disregard for financial regulations, further burdening taxpayers.
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