The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Kenyans online are sharing their first impressions of the redesigned State House facade in Nairobi, the official residence of President William Ruto.
Images circulating on social media reveal major changes to the building’s appearance. The traditional red-tiled colonial roof has been replaced with a modern flat design, dramatically altering its profile.
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The well-known dual dormers that once displayed the Kenyan and East African flags have also been removed, with the flags now raised on poles in front of the building.
The structure has been repainted in bright white, giving it a cleaner, more modern feel compared to its old colonial-style exterior.
Despite ongoing budget cuts, the government has invested billions of shillings in upgrades to State House and various state lodges over the past two years.
Renovation Costs
The Nairobi State House facelift alone is expected to cost Ksh1.7 billion, with Ksh775 million already spent by September 2024—44% of the project completed at the time. By September 2024, Ksh3.3 billion of the planned Ksh10.7 billion national refurbishment programme had been used.
Renovations at the Nairobi complex began in January 2024 after the main building was closed for works.
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In February 2025, State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito told MPs that the ongoing upgrades are being handled and funded by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Department of Defence (DoD). He requested an additional Ksh3 billion to complete remaining projects.
Appearing before the National Assembly Administration and Internal Security Committee, Metito defended the spending and explained how the funds were being allocated.
“We did not have a renovation budget. The pavilion is being handled under the DoD, while the main house is being upgraded by NIS. Being a security installation, it relies on security budgets,” he said.
