Ruto's multibillion-shilling renovations amid scarcity spark outrage

Critics have accused President William Ruto’s administration of using extensive refurbishments of government facilities such as State Houses and Lodges as a pretext to misappropriate billions of taxpayers’ money.

Since assuming office two-and-a-half years ago, Ruto has faced allegations of spending vast sums on upgrading his official residences and offices, as well as those of his deputy, at costs that could fund the construction of entirely new complexes.

In January, the offices of President Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki requested nearly Sh1.6 billion for the upcoming financial year to renovate and upgrade various government buildings.

The proposals, which had been paused due to budget constraints following the controversial Finance Bill, 2024, targeted State Houses in Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Kakamega, as well as the Harambee House (the President’s office) and the Kindiki’s Harambee Annex.

The total projected cost for these refurbishments and upgrades was estimated at Sh7.6 billion, with the Sh1.6 billion forming part of this larger plan.

According to parliamentary records from mid-2024, refurbishments of State Houses and Lodges were budgeted at Sh1.5 billion for the current financial year. The deputy’s office sought an additional Sh50 million for its official residence and Sh35 million for the Harambee Annex office.

Further funding included Sh200 million for a communication and networking project at State House, alongside allocations for specialised equipment and a mechanical garage.

These expenditures followed a costly facelift of State House in Nairobi, completed in January at a cost of Sh1.5 billion. The renovations, which included a new coat of paint, removal of the iconic red bricks, and a redesigned flat roof, were widely criticised as extravagant, particularly given Kenya’s economic challenges, mounting national debt, underfunded public hospitals, and dilapidated schools.

In February, the State House Comptroller requested Sh3 billion to finalise ongoing projects, including renovations. Documents presented to the National Assembly’s Administration and Internal Security Committee revealed that Sh775 million of an estimated Sh1.7 billion had been spent on State House Nairobi, with works 44 per cent complete as of February. 

The 2025 Budget Policy Statement allocated State House Sh7.5 billion, with Sh6.8 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh715 million for development, meaning 90 per cent of the budget was for operational costs.

In 2023/24, the Office of the Controller of Budget reported that the government spent Sh1.3 billion on State House construction projects. This included KSh616.79 million for a non-residential building, KSh583.54 million for refurbishments, Sh40 million for construction and civil works, and Sh61.95 million for specialised equipment.

The Executive Office of the President spent an additional Sh675.69 million, including Sh211 million on construction and Sh334.83 million on machinery. 

The Deputy President’s office allocated Sh365.92 million for refurbishments and Sh32.88 million for equipment. The Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary spent Sh170 million of recurrent funds on renovations.

In 2022/23, the Presidency (State House, the Executive Offices of the President and Deputy President) spent Sh1.59 billion on construction-related activities, including Sh600 million for non-residential buildings, Sh122.82 million for renovations, and Sh630.1 million for civil works. Additional expenditures included Sh93.91 million for machinery and Sh145.51 million for miscellaneous expenses.

For the financial year ending June 2024, State House spent Sh160.4 million on major refurbishments, contributing to a reported total of Sh220.3 million. Other allocations included Sh311 million for Mombasa State Lodge, Sh116 million for Nakuru State Lodge, Sh36.7 million for Eldoret State Lodge, KSh10.3 million for Kisumu State Lodge, Sh30.8 million for Sagana State Lodge, Sh15 million for Kakamega State Lodge, Sh9.8 million for Kisii State Lodge, and Sh220,000 for Mtito Andei State Lodge.

In 2024, MPs raised concerns over a Sh400 million renovation budget for the DP’s Harambee Annex office and residences in Karen and Mombasa. Documents presented to the National Assembly’s Security and National Administration Committee detailed expenditures on minor repairs, such as fixing kitchens, building new washrooms, and planting flowers, which the committee deemed wasteful.

MPs noted that the renovation costs were comparable to, or exceeded, the cost of constructing new buildings. The Kindiki's office had requested Sh1.2 billion for these works the previous year.

The 2025/2026 Budget Policy Statement indicates significant increases in budgetary allocations for key government offices. The Executive Office of the President will receive Sh4.7 billion (up from Sh3.5 billion), the DP’s office Sh3.4 billion (up from Sh2.5 billion), the Musalia Mudavadi Sh931 million (up from Sh722 million), and State House KSh7.5 billion (up from Sh4.3 billion).

Public discontent has also been fuelled by plans to demolish the Bomas of Kenya for the proposed International Convention Complex at a cost of Sh31.6 billion.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka claimed that these large-scale renovation budgets are a conduit for siphoning public funds. “We demand a public audit to show how taxpayers’ money has been spent. Annual allocations for renovations without progress reports are unacceptable,” he said.

He questioned the transparency of the Bomas deal, alleging a lack of public participation and clarity on whether it was competitively tendered or single-sourced. He urged the Gen Z, known for demanding accountability, to scrutinise the projects.

Kalonzo further claimed that Bomas' 80-acre land had been sold to a Turkish national, an allegation refuted by the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts, and Heritage Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir.

Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura defended the expenditures, stating that the renovations were a continuation of projects started in previous financial years. “The government is committed to reducing wastage. Many ministries and agencies faced budget cuts this year, and non-essential expenditures have been significantly reduced,” he said.

The scale of spending on government refurbishments, set against Kenya’s economic challenges, has intensified calls for transparency. Critics argue that the funds could be better allocated to critical sectors like healthcare and education. As public scrutiny grows, the Ruto administration faces mounting pressure to justify these expenditures and ensure that taxpayers’ money is used responsibly.