State House Renovations: What the KSh1.17 Billion Spending Figure Covers
By Kelvin Kibet | Updated October 9, 2026
Renovations at State House Nairobi have drawn debate over the building’s new appearance, heritage and public spending. A key distinction in the latest spending figures is scope: the reported KSh1.17 billion covered refurbishment across State House, State Lodges and buildings under the Office of the Deputy President during the financial year ended June 30, 2026. It is not a verified cost for State House Nairobi alone.
What the spending report says
The Office of the Controller of Budget’s FY 2025/26 implementation report provides the official basis for the spending figure. The report covers multiple government residences and offices, so readers should not attribute the full combined amount to one building without a separate project-level breakdown.
What President Ruto said about the works
President William Ruto defended the renovations in July, saying some facilities had fallen into disrepair, including leaking roofs and malfunctioning toilets. That is the President’s explanation for the works; the budget implementation report separately records public spending across the broader group of facilities.
Why the building’s appearance drew attention
Images of the remodelling showed a modernised exterior and a changed roofline, prompting criticism from some Kenyans and architectural commentators who raised concerns about the landmark’s historic character. Others supported maintenance and modernisation of a working national institution.
What remains unclear from the cited records
The combined annual spending figure does not by itself show how much was spent on the Nairobi building, which individual works were completed there, or the final cost of each contract. Those questions require project-level procurement and expenditure records. Viral claims assigning the entire KSh1.17 billion to State House Nairobi should therefore be treated cautiously.
