Ruto government allocates Sh680 million for State House renovation despite budget cuts, public outrage

The government has allocated over Sh680 million for the renovation of State House Nairobi, a move that comes amid growing public anger over soaring taxes and deep budget cuts in essential services.

The National Treasury has allocated the funds as part of a broader Sh894.9 million facelift plan targeting the President’s official residence and multiple state lodges across the country.

Budget estimates for the 2025/2026 financial year show that out of the Sh2.3 billion set aside for the Executive Office of the President, a significant portion will go into refurbishment and maintenance of State House Nairobi and various lodges, continuing a trend that began when President William Ruto took office in 2022.

Specifically, State House Nairobi will consume Sh680.7 million, while the rest of the funds will be spent on state lodges in Eldoret (Sh60.1 million), Mombasa (Sh42.5 million), Nakuru (Sh25 million), Kakamega (Sh25 million), Kisumu (Sh24 million), Kisii (Sh12.5 million), Sagana (Sh15 million), and the Mechanical Garage (Sh10 million).

Near-permanent construction zone

The renovations are part of ongoing construction and refurbishment projects that have turned State House Nairobi into a near-permanent construction zone.

Changes have included structural overhauls, roofing works and a controversial redesign that altered the colonial-style architecture into a flat-roofed structure, a move that drew backlash from the Architectural Association of Kenya.

The timing of the allocation has intensified public criticism, coming a year after the government withdrew contentious tax proposals following deadly protests led by youth opposed to the Finance Bill 2024.

Luxury spending

The renovations also appear to contradict President Ruto’s repeated pledges to cut non-essential and luxury spending under his administration’s austerity policy.

Interestingly, the Sh894.9 million allocation follows a recent reversal of earlier budget cuts.

In the second supplementary estimates for 2024/2025, the Treasury had removed Sh1.5 billion originally earmarked for the same renovations. The funds have now reappeared in the new budget, raising questions about government priorities.

Defending the expenditure, the Treasury noted that the allocations are necessary to facilitate the President’s leadership and constitutional functions.

“In the fiscal year 2025/26 and throughout the medium-term period, the State House will support His Excellency in executing the constitutional mandate,” the budget documents read.

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• Ruto government allocates Sh680 million for State House renovation despite budget cuts
• public outrage

The facelift projects date back to late 2022, shortly after President Ruto’s inauguration, following assessments that found parts of the 117-year-old building structurally unfit.

Architects had reportedly recommended new construction to replace deteriorating sections of the historic site, which was originally built as the residence of the governor of the British East Africa Protectorate.

State lodges

Under President Ruto’s leadership, state lodges that were rarely used during the tenures of former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta have become regular venues for official engagements. Eldoret, Sagana and Kisumu lodges are now frequently used to host cabinet meetings and other state functions.

Still, the continued renovations have sparked sharp criticism from legislators and civil society.

In March this year, State House Comptroller Katoo ole Metito told MPs that the renovation funds were being channelled through the National Intelligence Service and the Ministry of Defence, a response that critics say only adds to the opacity surrounding the projects.

Records from the Controller of Budget show that in the 2022/2023 financial year, Sh122.8 million was spent on renovations under President Ruto, followed by Sh50 million in 2023/2024. In contrast, former President Uhuru Kenyatta spent Sh10.7 billion on refurbishment and infrastructure in the final two years of his presidency.