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Ruto Under Fire as Treasury Allocates Fresh Sh894.9 Million for State House Renovations Amid Austerity Measures.
In a move described by critics as tone-deaf and extravagant, the National Treasury has earmarked Ksh894.9 million for the refurbishment of State House Nairobi and several regional lodges in the 2025/26 budget—despite President William Ruto’s public vow to implement sweeping austerity measures. The announcement has reignited public fury over ballooning executive spending amidst deepening economic strain.
Budget documents tabled in Parliament reveal that out of the nearly Ksh895 million, Ksh680.7 million will go directly to State House Nairobi, with smaller but significant portions allocated to Eldoret (Ksh60.15 million), Sagana (Ksh15 million), Mombasa (Ksh42.5 million), Nakuru (Ksh25 million), and satellite state lodges across the country—including Kisumu, Kisii, and Kakamega.
The figures are part of a much larger Sh2.3 billion facelift plan for State House and presidential lodges, raising questions about the government’s commitment to fiscal restraint in the face of surging living costs.
Austerity Claims Exposed
The bulk of the refurbishment budget was approved despite Ruto’s directive to eliminate non-essential expenditures and reduce recurrent spending by 50 percent—a mandate he issued just weeks earlier . Parliament had also slashed an earlier Ksh1.5 billion request for State House in the 2024/25 supplementary budget following public backlash.
Heritage Versus Modernity
The Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) has been vocal in condemning the renovations, asserting they distort the neo-classical heritage of the 1907 Sir Herbert Baker–designed structure. The shift from iconic red-tiled roofing to modern flat roofing, alongside the merging of entrance porches into broad canopies, has sparked widespread criticism.
President of AAK Florence Nyole lamented that “the renovation has ended up being a redesign and takes away from the recognition of State House as Kenyans know it”.
Public Outrage Grows
Digital discourse has turned sharply critical, with public sentiment reflected across social media platforms. One X user described the redesign as “an insult to history,” while another deemed it “the ugliest house in Kenya”—deriding the architectural shift as resembling brutalist blocks.
Amid widespread economic hardship, analysts say this allocation could prove politically costly. “It’s heartbreaking,” declared activist Sarah Meritei. “He wants to live large and comfortably while ordinary Kenyans are suffering”.
Government’s Defence
Treasury and State House officials have defended the allocations, citing urgent needs for structural rehabilitation—including updated ICT equipment, security enhancements, and essential maintenance. Katoo Ole Metito, the State House Comptroller, noted that major works were overdue after more than a century without upgrades. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale added: “State House is the country’s face before visiting dignitaries, and the upgrade is long overdue”.
What’s Next?
With Parliament set to debate the allocations, pressure is mounting for closer scrutiny of executive expenditures. Critics argue any budgetary excess threatens Ruto’s austerity credibility and undermines his appeal to everyday citizens struggling with rising costs.
This unfolding controversy raises crucial questions: Will the budget withstand opposition challenge? Can the government reconcile executive refurbishment with public welfare demands? And above all, is Ruto prepared to lead by example in cutting costs—or risk further erosion of public trust?
