Kenya’s iconic State House, the nerve center of presidential power, has quietly morphed into a never-ending construction zone—this time with another Sh890 million earmarked for renovations in the 2025/26 financial year.
The fresh allocation forms part of a Sh2.3 billion budget handed to the Executive Office of the President, sparking renewed debate about runaway public spending in tough economic times.
Since President William Ruto assumed office in 2022, the State House has been undergoing continuous refurbishments, from re-roofing to interior upgrades and landscape overhauls.
The government’s justification for the sustained facelift remains vague.
However, insiders cite aging infrastructure and “modernization needs” as reasons for the spending spree.
Still, with cumulative renovation costs now pushing into the billions, critics are crying foul, accusing the government of misplaced priorities.
Opposition figures and civil society groups are calling for transparency, pointing out that many Kenyans continue to grapple with a high cost of living, unemployment, and underfunded public services.
“If State House is eating up this much every year, what’s left for schools, hospitals, and roads?” asked one vocal MP.
This is not the first major spend on the presidential residence.
In 2023 and 2024, similar allocations were made, bringing the total spent—or committed—for renovation works at State House to well over Sh2 billion.
The slow pace and secrecy surrounding the works have raised eyebrows, with little detail made public about what’s actually being done.
The budget lines show that the Sh890 million will go toward “routine maintenance and rehabilitation,” but no breakdown has been provided.
With Kenya facing mounting debt, austerity calls from global lenders, and tax hikes on essential goods, the optics of yet another hefty sum for presidential comfort is igniting frustration.
For now, State House remains shrouded in scaffolding—and controversy.
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