State house set for renovations

A proposed upgrade of nine state lodges will cost taxpayers Sh953 million. The renovations are part of an ambitious Sh1.55 billion budget that has been earmarked by State House in the Financial Year 2024-25 for the implementation of a total of 13 capital projects.

The 13 capital projects include the refurbishment of buildings at Nairobi State House which has been allocated Sh250 million.

Refurbishment of buildings at Eldoret State Lodge will cost Sh125 million, Sagana State Lodge (Sh35 million), Mombasa State House (Sh240 million), Nakuru State House (Sh250 million), Kisumu State Lodge (Sh14.9 million), Kakamega State Lodge (Sh15 million), Kisii State Lodge (Sh19 million) and Mutito Andei State Lodge (Sh5 million).

Construction and other civil works will cost Sh500 million with Sh70 million earmarked for ICT networking and communication equipment and Sh30 million for the purchase of specialised plant, equipment and machinery.

State House Comptroller Katoo ole Metito presented the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) 2024 to the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security.

According to Executive Order No.2 of November 2023, State House is mandated to provide strategic support and facilitate the President in the provision of leadership in policy direction, coordination and oversight of Government toward the realization of the country’s sustainable development agenda as envisaged in the aspirations of Constitution of Kenya, BETA, Kenya Vision 2030 and other existing laws, regulations and development frameworks.

“It is important to note that, Executive Order No. 2 of 2023 on organisation of the Government created two key offices; President’s Strategy and Execution and Minorities and Marginalised Affairs Unit,” Metito said.

He said the Policy Advisory and Research Delivery Unit has been expanded and is required to be operationalized.

“To effectively facilitate newly created offices, State House will require additional resources,” he added.

He noted that the State House requested Sh16.2 billion to fund the State House Affairs Programme in the FY 2024-25 but the allocation as at BPS is Sh9.2 billion.

“There is therefore a likelihood that State House may not achieve the planned targets due to the underfunding of Sh6.97 billion,” ole Metito told MPs

Metito said the State House seeks a rationalized additional funding of Sh5 billion to optimally deliver on its overall mandate.