President William Ruto will be away from the 117-year-old State House in Nairobi for two months to allow renovation.

Architects had warned that parts of the expansive colonial structure had become unfit for habitation and recommended the construction of a new building.

However, sources at State House told The Standard that the move was vetoed by the President who insisted that only renovations be done given that building a new presidential residence would cost upward of Sh2 billion.


“A new residence would have cost over Sh2 billion. The President said this is not the right time to spend such an amount with the burden he has of delivering his agenda,” said the source.
In November 2022, two months after the President was sworn in among the supplementary budget presented by the Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro led Budget and Appropriations Committee report to Parliament was an additional Sh2.6 billion and Sh9.9 billion over the increased allocations to State House to finance renovations.
“The president looked at the budgets that were being paid for the use of tents at State House lawns and the figures were outrageous. It had become a cash cow for those at the Interior and Coordination office and the Head of State said this must stop,” said a source.

A new presidential pavilion that can host between 1,000 and 1,500 people has been constructed. The pavilion has offices where the president can host smaller meetings with visiting dignitaries.

Welcome to the 24/7 KTN Kenya News Channel on YouTube – your trusted source for the latest news and updates in Kenya and beyond. Stay informed with our comprehensive news coverage, breaking stories, in-depth analysis, and exclusive reports. Our live-streaming service brings you real-time updates on current affairs, politics, business, technology, health, entertainment, and much more. Join us and be a part of the conversation, and don't forget to subscribe for the latest news and updates. Stay connected with KTN Kenya News, your reliable news partner. #KTNKenya #NewsChannel #BreakingNews #KenyaNews #ktnprime #livestream #livenews

SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more great videos:

https://www.youtube.com/ktnnewskenya
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KTNNews

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KTNNewsKenya


KTN News is a leading 24-hour TV channel in Eastern Africa with its headquarters located along Mombasa Road, at Standard Group Centre. This is the most authoritative news channel in Kenya and beyond.
Watch KTN Live http://www.ktnnews.com/live
Watch KTN News http://www.ktnnews.com
Follow us on http://www.twitter.com/ktnnews
Like us on http://www.facebook.com/ktnnews